RATHBONES Old Victorians made it three Sid Guy Cup titles in four years, after their 31 run victory over HSBC Jersey CC.
An unbeaten 37 from 22 balls by man-of-the-match George Moore, alongside an excellent 34 from Robbie Forrest, saw OVs smash a massive 139-5 from their 12 overs.
It was the teenage star Beau Gurner who got the innings rolling, smashing two boundaries and a six from the first four balls, before he was out caught behind off Scott Van Breda for 16 off just five balls.
Jamie Watling joined Forrest at the crease, with the pair adding 41 in just under five overs before Watling was removed, Van Breda turning catcher on this occasion.
Moore and Forrest then went to work, taking a huge 23 runs off the next nine balls, before Forrest again found Van Breda, this time off the bowling of Lawrence Stewart.
Theo Pullman and Ed Giles added some handy lower order runs, as OVs piled on the runs to feel the happier of the two teams.
The chase got off to a tough start, with wily captain Andy Brown picking up the early wicket of Arti B for a duck.
Batting at number three, Tom Sibley struck a few lusty blows before he was out caught by Watling off Pullman.
It was Van Breda who again offered the main threat, on this occasion with the bat, smashing 30 off just 16 balls, but he found his end through the bowling of Tom Terry and a superb catch from Sandy Prosser.
With him went HSBC’s hopes. Lewis Ham Howes was excellent through the middle overs for the OVs, going for just 14 runs and claiming the wicket of opener Etienne Davies in his three-over spell.
Just as OVs were looking at closing in on their win, something truly baffling took place.
Considering his last performance with the ball under the floodlights in Spain, I never thought I would see Watling thrown the ball again.
Caught James Duckett, bowled Watling is usually seen the other way around, but Tom Heelis is the unfortunate man with those stats next to his name.
An Andy Brown run out capped off an excellent performance from the OVs and a successful title defence for 2024.
Rathbones OVs squad: Andy Brown, Beau Gurner, Robbie Forrest, James Duckett, Jamie Watling, Ed Giles, Theo Pullman, Lewis Ham Howes, Tom Terry, Sandy Prosser, Theo Pullman
HSBC Jersey CC squad: Etienne Davies, Arti B, Tom Sibley, Scott Van Breda, Tom Heelis, Lawrence Stewart, Harish Sontakke, George Camsell, Lewis Wynne, Oliver Etienne, Neil Sontakke.
