Youngsters dig Cobo out of hole to win nail-biter

IT WAS left to two Total Cobo juniors to bail their side out of trouble in their side's victory over C&W Rovers in the KPMG CI Club Championships on Saturday. Chasing Rovers' paltry total of 142 on a slow and difficult Port Soif track, the reigning champions found themselves in serious problems at 23 for five.

It got worse for them as in the 32nd over they were 97 for eight with an unlikely win for the home side on the cards.

But 18-year-old Pete Le Hegarat and Tom Le Tissier coming in at nine and 10 had different ideas as they put on 46 for the ninth wicket to see Cobo home.

'They did very well: fair play to the guys' said Cobo captain Stuart Le Prevost.

'We know they can bat but they don't get the opportunity often.'

Opener Richard Headington was Rovers' main man with the bat as he accumulated a fine 60 before he was caught behind by Justin Ferbrache off Blane Queripel.

No one else in Rovers' batting line up put up any resistance.

Stuart Bisson, after looking in great touch, had a mad rush of blood on 19 as he jumped down the wicket to try and smash Gary Rich into the next parish only to be bowled by the veteran spinner.

Tim Duke and Aaron Scoones both failed and the only real innings of note apart from Headington's and Bisson's was from 14-year-old Robbie Le Corre, who was unbeaten on 12. The left-handed all-rounder is definitely one for the future.

Going into the field with their heads down after such an awful batting display, Rovers were soon chirping like sparrows in spring as Cobo started to crumble under some top class bowling from Bisson and Duke with the new ball.

TJ Ozanne went in the second over bowled off his pads by an absolute pearler from Duke.

But the Essex man was to produce something even more special to get rid of Pete Vidamour when he let go of one that pitched middle and leg but hit the top of off stump. Afterwards Vidamour said it was the best ball he's ever faced.

From the other end, Bisson was also making inroads. He dismissed Robbie Moore when the number three feeling the heat tried to hit him over the top but only succeeded in chipping him to Paul Porter at mid off.

Then the island seamer got the prize wicket of Le Prevost when the Cobo captain missed at a straight low full toss to be bowled. A surprising dismissal for someone of Le Prevost's class.

And when Rich was caught behind off his gloves from a quicker one from Duke, the match was certainly going Rovers' way.

But a dogged innings from Mark Renouf started to pull Cobo out of the mire. His 13 off 60 balls was just right in the circumstances to give his team some breathing space.

When he went lbw to Le Corre and with Kris Moherndl and Queripel both chipping in but also departing before the end - the latter to a great catch by Neil Davey - the match was now in definitely in Rovers' hands with the visitors on 97 for eight.

The problem facing Bisson, though, was who to turn to with the ball as he and his fellow island bowlers Duke and Scoones were bowled out while Rob Turville, Richard Hamilton and Matt Hallet were not playing.

But in saying that, Le Hegarat and Le Tissier now at the crease batted exceptionally well, with Le Hegarat looking especially good on the back foot.

The quick bowler, who has recently had a game for Hampshire seconds, weighed in with 33 not out.

He hit the winning runs when he pulled Davey over square leg for four in the 39th over.

After the game, Bisson knew exactly where it had gone wrong for his side.

'The problem was our big three with the bat: myself, Duke and Scoones, who I like to refer to as Younis Khan, Mohammad Yousef and Inzaman-ul-Haq, didn't come to the party today,' he said.