Farmers CC got their Championship Week in the European Cricket League 2025 off to a flying start with back-to-back wins.
After topping Group F last week in a rain-affected few days at the Cartama Oval, Farmers again had to make do with a rain-affected start as both day one and day two were completely washed out.
To make Group F work, the ECL changed the format from ten-over aside games to just five, to allow all games to be squeezed into the packed schedule.
The same occurred again on day 3 of Championship Week, as Farmers faced defending champions Hornchurch and Roma CC in five-over contests.
With some key names departing the squad, notably Jersey national captain Chuggy Perchard and Farmers captain James Perchard, all-rounder Zak Tribe assumed the captaincy role.
Wildcard pick Christian Purchase remained, however, after a successful group stage for the man-mountain opening batter.
The men in green this week also welcomed in a second wildcard selection in fast bowler, Tommy Sturgess, who was brought straight into the action, opening the bowling.
Also brought in to fill some all-rounding boots in the place of Stan Norman was former Jersey Reds player, Scott Van Breda.
Their opening game against Hornchurch posed a serious threat, as the English side dominated last year’s competition, including beating Jersey side Old Victorians in the final.
The reigning champions batted first, posting an imposing score of 92 for 3 from their five overs, dominated by their wildcard selection, Dan Lincoln, with 48.
Van Breda was the star with the ball, dismissing opening batter George Hankins LBW and conceding just ten runs from his overs.
In reply, it was not the start the Farmers were after, following the run-out of Julius Sumerauer in the first over after failing to slide in his bat at the non-strikers end.
However, once Purchase joined skipper Tribe at the crease, the two power hitters got to work.
The Cornwall batter Purchase smashed 33 off just nine before he was out caught, but Tribe continued to finish unbeaten on 47 off just 14 balls, including five monster sixes to snatch a huge win off the penultimate delivery of the game.
Farmers were perfectly good for their win against stiff opposition, yet faced another tough test in their second game against a Roma CC side which included some serious international pedigree.
The Caesareans opted to bat first on this occasion, and again it was Tribe who led from the front with the bat.
He bludgeoned the ball to all parts of the Cartama Oval, this time reaching his half century. He was finally dismissed run out off the final ball for a superb 58 off 16 deliveries, which saw a further eight white Kookaburra cricket balls depart the vicinity.
After chasing down 92 against Hornchurch, Farmers themselves posted 92 against the Romans, for the loss of three wickets.
Julius Sumerauer was dismissed caught on the boundary for a golden duck, before Purchase came and went, clean-bowled for just ten.
But Tribe found a competent partner in young James Smith, wearing the keeping gloves for these games, as he finished not out in both games, scoring 8* and 19* respectively.
In reply, Tribe and his cohort would have been made aware of who awaited them, in Roma opening batter Milinda Siriwardana, possibly better known for his performances as an international Test-level player for the Sri Lanka national team.
The classy left-hander smashed the ball to all parts, hitting a defiant 52* off just 15 deliveries, but the Italian champions fell just five runs short, handing Farmers their second consecutive win and the perfect start to their Championship Week.
Farmers were scheduled to play table-topping Zurich Nomads yesterday evening – that game will be reported on in tomorrow’s JEP.
Farmers CC squad: Zak Tribe (c), Jack Kemp (wk), Adam Bradbury, Rhys Palmer, Joel Dudley, James Smith, Will Perchard, Toby Britton, Julius Sumerauer, Jack De Gruchy, Scott Van Breda, Tommy Sturgess (wildcard), Christian Purchase (wildcard)
*not out
