Smit slays Rovers again

GH SMIT is already the front runner for player of the year. Mavericks' South African just gets better and once again it was poor Air Search Rovers who suffered at Port Soif as he produced another awesome display of powerful hitting.

With the severely depleted hosts having been bowled out for a paltry 84, Smit came in at first wicket down in the reply and smacked an unbeaten 69 from just 24 balls.

His astonishing innings, which came just four days after he had hit 94 not out against the same opposition for St Pierre in the Evening League, included seven fours and six sixes.

His island squad mate Aaron Scoones came in for the most punishment.

The off-spinner, who had taken the wicket of Dale Webb with his first delivery, conceded 17 off his third over and then 28 - four sixes and a four - off his fourth and last.

At the other end, Simon Huxtable carried his bat for eight.

'GH was just mesmerising,' said Mavericks skipper Justin Meades, after a match which finished before 3pm and which comprised only 39.2 overs.

'To be fair to Rovers, they were not fielding a strong side, but you can beat only what's put in front of you.

'Credit should also go to Lee Gallienne and Andy Burkhardt, who set up the win with their opening spells.'

In their combined 18 overs, the pair put the pressure on Rovers as they conceded just 44 runs between them.

The home side, who fielded only three first-team regulars and were missing vital players such as Tim Duke and Richard Headington, then succumbed to Meades and Smit.

The captain claimed five for 19 as he demonstrated the virtues of bowling straight, while Smit picked up four wickets with his off spin.

Meanwhile, at the KGV Elizabeth College picked up a notable scalp by beating PKF Wanderers by 53 runs.

A fifth-wicket stand of 86 between Will Thompson and Jonny Clark laid the foundation for college's testing total of 224.

Number four Thompson faced 89 deliveries and hit six boundaries as he top-scored with 65 for his side, while Clark struck the same number of boundaries in his 66-ball knock of 60.

However, it was Thomas Kirk's quickfire 52 not out from only 24 deliveries which pushed the students well past the 180 or so which they seemed destined to reach at one stage.

The young all-rounder hit a six and six fours in his innings.

The Wanderers reply did not start well as they found themselves 28 for three early on.

Richard Veillard and Matt Thornton steadied the ship and took their side past 100 and when Pierre Moody joined the former, they were still in with a shout.

But some tight bowling led to a flurry of wickets as the last six men fell for 36.

Veillard was the only Wanderer to reach a half-century as he contributed 53, while for the college Peter Le Hegarat claimed three wickets and Jack Byrne mopped up the tail with five for 15.