Evening League title race goes down to the final week

Both Independents and Cobo picked up comfortable victories this week at the KGV, which leaves the two contenders locked on 14 points going into their last Dominion EL1 fixtures, but reigning champions Indies are in pole position to retain the Rozel Shield by virtue of their superior net run-rate.

However, an unlikely slip-up against Optimists on Tuesday at Port Soif would open the door for Cobo, who play at the same time against Griffins at KGV.

Indies had the tougher challenge this week on paper as they faced third-placed Irregulars, particularly without injured all-rounder Will Peatfield, and it looked like they could have a big run chase on their hands when Ben Maxton got Irregulars off to a flier, taking 30 off the first two overs with the help of several extras.

His opening partner Martin-Dale Bradley did not face a ball in that time and when he finally got on strike he was dismissed for a duck by Kieran Le Gallez, who then added the scalp of Ben Wentzel for good measure in the same over.

Maxton kept his foot down, though, rattling along to a brisk half-century while continuing to lose partners at the other end until his fun was eventually brought to an end in the 15th over, having made 76 of his side’s 123 runs at that point. He had hit nine fours and two sixes from 54 deliveries.

But as Maxton departed, so did the Irregulars' momentum as Indies conceded just 23 runs from the final five overs.

Tom Nightingale was in typically positive mood at the start of the reply, but his innings did not last long as he went four-four-out.

There were to be no further scares until the job was all-but done, though, as skipper Nathan Le Tissier and Matt Stokes both made half-centuries in a second-wicket stand worth 127.

Stokes top scored with 68 from 44 deliveries with seven fours and a six, but fell with the winning post in sight, bowled by Charles Vorster.

That left Zak Damarell to come in and finish things in style with three successive boundaries.

Le Tissier finished unbeaten on 58, having hit the accelerator in his 46-ball innings, hitting five fours and clearing the rope three times.

The following day at the same venue, Cobo were given the relatively simple task of chasing down 92 for victory after seamers Luke Nussbaumer and Tony Merrien had done much of the damage early on, reducing Optis to 25 for seven.

An eighth-wicket stand of 56 between James Ridout and Alex Bushell, who made 35 and 30 respectively, made the eventual total more respectable, but it was never going to prove too testing for the Cobo batting line-up.

They required just nine overs to knock off the runs with Josh Butler the only batter to fall. Ollie Nightingale and Charlie Birch saw them home with plenty to spare.

In the week’s other clash, Griffins captain Tom Kirk made an unbeaten 56 from 29 balls at Port Soif on Tuesday to help his side reach 154 for 4 in an 18-overs-per-side contest against Wanderers-Rovers, who were then restricted to 141 for 4, despite 69 from Lucas Barker who hit half-a-dozen fours and two sixes.