Saints cannot prevent Cobo's three in a row

THE Rozel Shield is to remain at the Rockmount for another year. Cobo retained their crown as kings of the evening league as they overcame title rivals St Pierre last night by 17 runs at the KGV in an enthralling if somewhat unusual 12-over clash.

'It's been a long season because of the wet weather and all the rearrangements, but it has come good in the end,' said Cobo captain Stuart Le Prevost.

'We have had to work hard and we got our reward.'

With Le Prevost and Paul Wakeford having agreed on a dozen overs each in the knowledge that the light would not last long, it was no surprise that the St Pierre skipper inserted the champions when he won the toss.

Although the small number of allotted overs suggested a slog-fest would develop, Cobo did not find boundaries easy to come by yet they kept their run rate at a decent level. With a big outfield and the field set deep, ones and twos kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Matt Oliver played the anchor role and carried his bat for an unbeaten 23 from 22 balls. The island opener did not score a boundary in his innings, but the same could be said for all bar one of the Cobo batsmen who got to the crease.

Le Prevost was the exception as he hit three fours in his 35 from 23 balls, which proved to be a vital knock.

TJ Ozanne and Kris Moherndl also made useful contributions to help their side reach 99 for four.

After three balls of the reply, that score did not look nearly enough as GH Smit dispatched Blane Queripel for two fours from his second and third deliveries with the field set close.

Le Prevost later admitted that was an error on his part and credit should go to the bowler whose response was excellent.

Once the lessons had been learnt, Cobo began to rein Saints back as Queripel and Moherndl both produced fine four-over spells.

The former picked up the vital wicket of Smit in the third over, well caught by Peter Le Hegarat at deep square leg, and followed that with those of another dangerman, Jarrod Avery, and Jaco Pieterse.

Saints' one remaining hope was Justin Meades and he caused a few nerves to flutter in the Cobo camp as he took 10 off the final two balls of Gary Rich's opening over on his way to top scoring with 28.

However, Mark Renouf kept things tight in the penultimate over leaving the batting side with the huge ask of 24 from Rich's final one.

The island all-rounder kept his nerve, dismissed both Justin Walker and Meades, and Cobo were home and dry.

'The bowlers all did their job well and it undoubtedly helps to have so many young, mobile guys in the field,' Le Prevost said of his side's performance.

Opposite number Wakeford, himself a former evening league winning Cobo captain on several occasions, congratulated his old club on their achievement.

'The aim this season was to push Cobo to the last game and we were playing against virtually a full island side tonight so the boys have done really well considering,' he said.

'It has been a good team performance from our lads all season, everyone has stuck together, but Cobo have proved they were the best side.'