Ravenscroft is not one to feel the heat

EVEN going in with his team under pressure at four for two had little effect on Tim Ravenscroft yesterday. The Channel Islands under-14 captain was cool and composed under the hot Port Soif sun as he stroked a majestic unbeaten 90 to guide the hosts to a seven-wicket victory over Huntingdonshire.

The visitors' bowling attack is one of the better ones on display this week and they had Ravenscroft playing and missing on a couple of occasions, but he was never flustered.

In Jersey's diminutive Dan McAviney, he had the ideal foil and the young Caesarean played some outstanding shots of his own during his vital contribution of 35 after the early wickets of Will Thompson and Adam Hindle.

After 'Macca' was unfortunately run out with the hosts nearing their target, Tim de la Haye kept his skipper company as Ravenscroft finished off proceedings in style, hitting four boundaries in his last five balls faced - the other being a single to keep the strike.

Earlier, the CI had produced another tidy bowling display as, for the third time this week, they dismissed their opponents for 144.

For Huntingdonshire, Tom Bishop was in good nick as he struck a fine 65 while the pick of the home bowlers was Andrew Hutchinson once again with two for three, although all performed well.

'We bowled our first 10 overs very well and put them under pressure. It was a good team effort from a team that looked to be tiring in what has been a long week,' said CI manager Chris Minty.

'Then at four for two we were given a different batting challenge and a terrific partnership between Dan McAviney and Tim Ravenscroft sealed the game.

'It is a must-win game tomorrow. We are up for it and we have to make sure the players are in the best possible nick,' he added of the clash with Norfolk.

Both sides have won all four of their games so far and meet at the KGV at 9.30am in the title decider.