Maverick Kenny reignites

VINCE KENNY turned back the clock to sink the newly crowned Jersey champions on a morale-boosting opening weekend of the NatWest CI Club Championships for Guernsey. Just a week before the 50th anniversary inter-insular, Guernsey sides won three of the four games in round one of the major club event in CI cricket which, on Friday, announced a new three-year deal with NatWest.

In addition, Guern-sey won the B inter-in sular at Grainville by five wickets chasing 155 for victory.

Kenny blasted an undefeated 76 as Mavericks gunned down Romerils by six wickets at Grainville.

The mercurial opener has been seen little in top-level cricket this season but showed a glimpse of a return to form with 129 for St Pierre B last week before steering Mave-ricks to victory with 14 overs to spare. Rom-erils had set their opponents 201 for victory.

In Guernsey, Cobo overcame stubborn and testing opposition in the form of St Ouen by 61 runs at KGV, while Optimists produced one of their best showings of the summer in walloping Sporting Club at Port Soif.

Ami Banerjee was the star. He stroked an undefeated 89 as the visitors were set 244 for victory in 45 overs on a fast outfield.

Banerjee hit six fours and an uncharacteristic heaved six over long on and, such was Optimists' control over an under-strength SCF side, the player was not required to bowl.

Skipper Andy Biggins was delighted.

'That was a very satisfying win because we were five players down on our first-choice team.

'We fielded very well and bowled well early on. I think we were that bit hungrier than them.'

The Optis total was based upon an opening stand of 70 between Tim de Putron (54) and Tom Magson, who was happy to play the support role. De Putron went six runs after his opening partner, but Banerjee and Biggins then added 77.

Cobo were indebted to 60 from Peter Vida-mour at the top of the order and St Ouen shooting themselves in the foot when they were seemingly cruising at 74 for two.

Kris Moherndl's run out of Irons got Cobo back into the game and when Morrison was superbly snapped up by TJ Ozanne off a full toss, quickly followed up by a dubious leg before, Cobo were back in control.