St Pierre draw level with Cobo at the top

ST PIERRE kept the pressure on Cobo with a crushing nine-wicket win over Corinthians at the King George V Field last night. With the league entering the business end of things, St Pierre have lost twice while leaders Cobo have only lost once.

Yesterday evening's result saw them draw level with the west coast side, having playing one game more and it seems that everything hinges on when the two meet on 20 August.

Batting first, an under-strength Corinthians managed 107 from their 19 overs. Opener James Warr hit 27 before he was run out and the total would have been worse if it was not for a late flurry from Dave Piesing with 24 coming in at seven.

Island manager Hearse was the pick of the St Pierre bowlers with three for 30 from seven overs. In reply, Jarrod Avery smashed 19 runs from 11 balls before Jonny Orme bowled him.

This brought Australian Justin Meades to join opener GH Smit at the crease and the island pair soon went about their business of eating up the Corinthian attack, although afterwards the affable South African Smit was not too pleased with his 39 not out from 32 balls.

'I was struggling - I don't know if it was the ball, I wasn't timing it,' he said.

'I got 39 but it wasn't enough. We've got to score them against Cobo.

'We're still in the run to win it.'

Meades was more fluid for his 44 not out. He hit a delightful straight six off Eddie Sherbourne that landed onto the greenhouses.

And he nearly connected with glass again when he launched into under-18 swing bowler Chris Dravers a couple of overs later.

But that six peppered the trees instead.

The match was won in the only the 13th over when Smit was dropped at long off with the scores tied off the bowling of Warr.

But this was immaterial, as a no ball had already been called.