In sunny and breezy conditions at Grainville, the CI made it two wins in two games by defeating Dorset by five wickets.
After restricting Dorset to 156 for five in 45 overs, the CI overcame the loss of a couple of early wickets to win with 11 balls to spare.
CI captain Keith Dennis said: ‘I thought it was a comfortable win in the end despite nearly using all of our overs.
We always had the wickets in hand if we had needed them.
‘Greg Sykes and Ralph Anthony saw us home after some excellent batting from Andy Gibbs and John Taylor.
Andy batted sensibly while John hit several good boundaries to keep the scoring ticking along.’ Dennis again praised the efforts of his bowlers.
He added: ‘Mike Kinder and Steve Birkett conceded more runs than usual but they still bowled tidily.
It was an excellent bowling performance with Ralph Anthony the pick.
‘His left-arm spin resulted in three wickets for 18 runs in nine overs.
He had nine runs knocked off his first over so to concede 18 in total was a great effort.’ Anthony also returned four maidens while also hitting the winning runs.
Paul Robson was caught at square leg trying a pull shot second ball of the innings and then Dennis was removed following an excellent catch diving forward low down at second slip.
Gibbs and Steve Birkett then patiently pushed the CI to 78 before Birkett was bowled.
Gibbs followed soon after attempting to hit the ball over the bowler only to be caught.
John Taylor and Sykes both played cautiously before Taylor hit a couple of big sixes, the first to long off where spectator Ward Jenner ran in front of the scorers’ table to take a fine catch to prevent the scorers from being hit.
Jenner will have been delighted with his effort – making up for the one he dropped against the MCC at the same ground on Monday! Sykes was run out leaving Taylor and Anthony to steer the side home.
Gibbs finished on 46 after five boundaries in 117 minutes off 110 balls.
Taylor’s 62-minute stay resulted in two 4s and two 6s for an unbeaten 40 off 44 deliveries.
The CI play Wiltshire on Saturday at Grainville, from 1 pm, with the unavailable Taylor being replaced in the team by Tom Gales.
