Duke sets the tone for an efficient Rovers victory

TIM DUKE showed no signs of rustiness as he set Rovers on their way to an important victory last night at Port Soif.

A St Pierre side boasting some dangerous players, including former Rover GH Smit, always pose a threat in the evening format, but the home club put in an efficient performance to claim the points.

Duke led the way with an impressive 76 in which he showed just why he was EL Division One player of the year two years on the trot earlier this decade.

His opening partner, Lee Savident, had taken an early liking to the medium pace of Arun Ayyavooraju, hitting the French international for three boundaries from his first three deliveries, but the island all-rounder's innings came to an abrupt end when he got a leading edge into the covers off Mark Culverwell.

So Duke, well assisted by young left-hander Robbie Le Corre, took on the mantle of mainstay of the innings and kept the board ticking over as well as adding the occasional boundary - a sweet square drive for four being a particular highlight.

An unfortunate mix-up left Le Corre stranded to break their partnership of 78 and when Duke went shortly afterwards, miscueing a tired pull off Andy Burkhardt to mid-wicket, Rovers lost some momentum.

The opener's 57-ball stay at the crease included six boundaries and when back in the pavilion he admitted that: 'It was like starting the season again - I haven't batted for three or four weeks'.