Sky show tops off season for 'Savs' season

LEE SAVIDENT'S attention grabbing performances live on Sky Sports 3 came at the end of one of his best seasons. The Guernsey international was the star of the show in the national club Twenty20 final, scoring 49 and 78, both times unbeaten.

But followers of the Southern Premier League, which his side Totton and Eling represented at Canterbury, won't be surprised. He has had a tremendous season with the bat, being the league's leading run scorer with 740 at an average of about 55.

The all-rounder's unbeaten 78 earned him the man-of-the-match award.

His team also won £5,000 for their victory.

'It was a good day, but it was a long day,' said the 30-year-old.

'Most of the younger lads were nervous, but you don't really notice the cameras. I turned round to the lads and said to just concentrate on the ball when you're bowling, fielding and batting.

'We took it pretty well. We've got a few show ponies and it was good for a few of the lads to get a bit of exposure.'

To get to the final, Savident's side got past Weston-Super-Mare and St Just's.

Then, on the finals day, Totton and Eling defeated Cheltenham to meet Derbyshire's Ockbrook for the national title.

A fine bowling and fielding display with Savident taking a catch at slip by Totton restricted Ockbrook to just 115. With Savident in a destructive mood and looking to expose a short boundary, they reached the target with a couple of overs spare.

'Really our bowling and fielding did the job for us,' he said.

'If we haven't got a score to chase we bat the first 10 overs and see what we get and then in the next five overs that's when we tend to go.'

His efforts earned him praise from England internationals Rob Key and Paul Nixon who were commentating on Sky.

'I think Nixon liked it when I got the reverse sweep out,' said Savident.

Although he is based in Hampshire, Savident has been an integral part of the island's side in ICC competitions.

He was also a member of the Guernsey team that competed in last week's Indoor Cricket World Cup in Bristol.

The greens picked up a notable scalp when they defeated Pakistan.

'It was a good week,' said Savident.

'The juniors did very well and we did well until the last two games where the lads lost the plot.'

The last time he has played in front of TV cameras was against Warwickshire in 2000 when he was still at Hampshire. He then lost his professional contract but he does not think that his performance on Sunday will kickstart his career again.

'No chance - I'm too old, I'm too fat and I'm slow,' he said.