Hooper is the hosts’ hero
DAVID HOOPER came up with the last-over heroics as Guernsey got off the mark in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Europe Final.
Just when it looked as if the Sarnians were about to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory against Norway as they left themselves needing 10 off the last over, the Griffins pair of Hooper and Luke Le Tissier saw them home with a ball to spare.
Le Tissier had taken three off the first two balls of Walid Ghauri’s final over before Hooper swung a flat six over the despairing leap of the deep square-leg fielder to tie the scores with three deliveries remaining.
They could then afford a dot ball before Hooper flat-batted a full toss back over the bowler for the winning single that left Norway as the only team without a win so far in the tournament.
It was a deserved win for Guernsey, who had looked in control for the vast majority of the contest that had been reduced to 16 overs per side after a rain-delayed start.
However, as the winning post came into view, they demonstrated all the signs of a batting unit understandably low on confidence as they stumbled rather than strode over the finish line.
That they got there was all that mattered, though, and it was fitting that Hooper should win them the game as it had been his outstanding bowling spell on Tuesday against Denmark in a match that was ultimately abandoned which had rejuvenated the side.
Guernsey are due to face Denmark at 10.45am today at the KGV as Tuesday’s washed out schedule gets fulfilled.
