OLD Victorians captured the hearts and minds of many at Cartama Oval, with an astonishing three-game clean sweep on finals day to secure the Group C victory at the 2024 European Cricket League, dubbed the cricketing equivalent of the Champions League.
With Group C glory in Málaga, the Islanders are now set to return to sunny Spain for “Championship Week” starting 18 March, where they will face the six victors of the other groups in a bid to be crowned 2024 European Cricket League champions.
They become the second Jersey team in as many years to make it through to Championship week, after Island captain Chuggy Perchard guided his domestic club Farmers to group success at the same venue in 2023.
Concluding the group stage on two wins and two losses, OVs qualified for Group C finals day in third place.
However, the Jersey representatives clearly felt acclimatised by the closing day, with an elimination win over CC Akademik – Sofia and a dominant semi-final success over Gamblers SC, who qualified in pole position.
The stage was set for a duel with Swiss champions Olten, with the carrot being an opportunity to return in 11 short days.
Jonty Jenner played protagonist under the lights, with Jamie Watling his able sidekick.
Fresh off two strong performances earlier in the day, OVs had no doubt in their mind that they were going to bat first if they won the toss and that is exactly what they did.
Jenner continued where he left off in the semi-final, where the Jersey star became the second OV in as many days to score a century, following the path of Jamie Watling.
He quickly put the Swiss side under immense pressure, finding the boundary at will.
Nine maximums and seven boundaries later, Jenner was on the precipice of European Cricket League history.
No player had ever hit hundreds in consecutive games and the OV ended up falling agonisingly short on 97.
The men from Jersey stuttered somewhat after the explosive start and, entering the tenth over, the game was on a knife edge, prior to Watling taking a rude 33 off the bowling of Muralitharan Gnanasekaram.
Olten began with 30 from the first six balls and suddenly tensions rose within the Old Victorian camp.
However, tight bowling in the next three overs from Scott Simpson, Ed Giles and Matthew Webb swung the pendulum back in their favour.
Olten continued to plug away, but in the end it was a bridge too far.
Despite a spirited 26 from the remaining six balls, the Swiss champions fell short by 15 runs, sparking wild scenes of Old Victorian celebration in the field.
James Duckett – Captain
“It’s honestly really hard to put into words.
After the first few performances, I wasn’t entirely sure I could see the week panning out like this, but the boys really turned it on.
They played their best cricket when they needed to and we finished the week getting stronger and stronger.
I couldn’t be more proud of them.
Winning the toss and batting was massive. In a final, scoreboard pressure is everything.
If you can put a solid total up, it’s really difficult for the opposition.
If they fall a few balls behind the rate, it’s not easy to come back from there.
Jonty was massive on the final day. He’s a top-class player. He’s done this time and time again at the highest level for Jersey and various teams all over the world. It is not a surprise to see him step up when we really needed him.
Charlie Brennan really impressed up the order too. He’s still really young and I truly believe he will be one of the best Jersey cricketers that we have had.
But the biggest surprise of the week was Jamie Watling. What a performance. I couldn’t be more happy for him.
He showed everyone what he can do. I’ve not seen someone strike the ball like that for a long time.
To lead this group of lads is an honour. They are such an easy bunch to get on with and they do everything that’s asked of them and more.
I really don’t think I have to do much as a captain, as the squad takes great care of itself.”
Jonty Jenner
“It was such a great day. The final ended up being pretty tight in the end, which we knew it would.
I’m naturally quite an aggressive batsman, so the T10 format has always appealed to me.
Out there, the boundaries are short, so you do get good value for being brave and aggressive.
The tournament is such a great opportunity for the younger guys at the club to be put in those pressure situations on the European stage.
It’s broadcast all over the world, so it’s so valuable for them to be placed in an environment like that when they are still developing.
Down the road, if they are playing at a higher level, they can call on moments like this to settle them down.
Most of us all want to play for the national team and I think opportunities such as this can only bode well for the future of the sport in Jersey.”
