THE cream rose to the top in the Brooks Macdonald Premier T20 league opening round as Farmers and defending champions Old Victorians got off to winning starts.
It was the ball that reigned supreme at Grainville, where Farmers CC overcame RGA Walkovers thanks to fantastic four-over spells from left-arm spinner Toby Britton (2-16) and pace bowler Adam Bradbury (2-19).
Walkovers posted 101-8 in the season’s opening batting innings. Nick Ferraby got his side going with the first six of the season, but when the dangerman was trapped leg before by Britton, their innings never fully recovered.
Kadeem Caddle and Ben Beeley set about trying to restore the innings, but at a slow pace. Young wicketkeeper Jack Kemp was in form with the gloves, taking a catch and a nice stumping off Jersey captain Chuggy Perchard to dismiss Michael Ahier.
A handy cameo of 26 off 21 balls from the experienced Jonny Gough carried the home side past the century mark.
Farmers’ reply got off to a much better start, with both openers Kemp and Joel Dudley hitting sixes and firing 48 for the opening partnership, before Kemp was dismissed by the excellent leg-spin of Beeley for 19.
There was the slightest sign of a wobble an over later when Ric Firth was clean bowled first ball by Ferraby, before Beeley took the second of his two wickets by also clean bowling Dudley for an aggressive 33.
Perchard was the man to see the game home, finishing 26 not out from 28 balls, assisted by a quick cameo of 14 by Adam Bradbury to cap an impressive first win of the season.
Game two of the day saw defending champions OVs beat St Ouen Springfield by six wickets thanks to a James Duckett masterclass.
New SOS captain Harrison Carlyon walked out to bat with his dad Tony and put on 22 for the opening wicket, before the former was dismissed by left-arm quick Scott Simpson, caught behind by Jonny Heward for a run-a-ball 17.
Usually seen opening the bowling, skipper and reigning 2023 cricketer of the year Duckett took the ball for the final over of the powerplay and demonstrated why he currently wears the crown.
Former Jersey captain Peter Gough is always a nice scalp to get and Duckett dismissed the experienced left hander with just his third ball of the season, Gough hearing the death rattle for just five. Duckett was delirious just moments later when he dismissed Dom Blampied first ball, caught smartly by Charlie Brennan.
Australian debutant Hamish McKeon was the man to face the hat-trick ball, but it was not to be. Nevertheless, Duckett’s first over of the season concluded with a remarkable double-wicket maiden.
Brother Rob Duckett removed the elder Carlyon, again disturbing the timber for 17.
McKeon and incoming batsman Elliot Miles saw through the remainder of the innings to both finish not out on 32 and 13 respectively. The final score of 98-4 from their 20 overs dominated by captain Duckett’s four-over spell of two wickets for just six runs.
What looked a straightforward chase took a lurch when Jersey’s bludgeoning left-hand opener Charlie Brennan was sent back to the pavilion for just four, caught by Miles off the outstanding bowling of Damon Huckerby. The left-armer finished with remarkable figures of one wicket for just four runs from his three overs.
Jamie Watling, recent star of the European Cricket League T10 tournament, was the man in at number three. But he walked on the third ball for a duck, Miles the bowler on this occasion, Carlyon the catcher.
OV skipper Duckett was the man to steer the ship, expertly assisted by the experienced Luke Gallichan. Together, they put on 36 runs for the third wicket before Gallichan was dismissed for 12 off the bowling of Kush Pathak.
Blampied dismissed Ali Webster for eight, before the big-hitting Ed Giles swaggered to the crease. Three boundaries smashed in quick succession saw OVs over the line, but not before Duckett had passed his 50, the first of the domestic season and rounding off a superb individual performance.
Elsewhere, in Division 1, OVs 2s kicked off their campaign with a convincing 106-run win over International Royals. Ed Giles (86) starred with the bat, his knock off just 51 balls included eight sixes, ably supported by opener Jonny Heward (60*) who carried his bat as OVs posted 226 for 6 from their 40 overs, despite a golden duck from number three George Moore and four wickets from opening bowler Manu Thareja. The pacey young Pullman brothers, Theo and Louis, combined for five Royals wickets, spinner Jack Vowden snatched up a two-for and teenage star Freddie Harben picked up an early contender for catch of the season.
Walkovers 2s started their season with a thumping ten-wicket win over Farmers 2s. Farmers capitulated from 34-3 to 46 all out, with Neal Davies starring with the ball, picking up astonishing figures of three wickets for zero runs from his three overs.
Paul Kemp, Jordan McConnell and Tom Kearns chipped in with two wickets each.
In reply, Walkovers’ opening pair of Mikey Pih (22*) and Joe De Pina (20*) saw them home with ease, hitting the winning runs in the 11th over.
Division 2 produced the first hat-trick of the season, as Andy Wood made the perfect start to his season for Royals 2s in their 109-run win over Farmers 3s. Royals hit 190 in the first innings thanks to 57 from Mark Queree and Wood himself chipping in with 28. Wood picked up 4-25 from his seven-over spell.
He first dismissed opener Sol Bennett for three, before nicking off Ollie Vacher, clean bowling Will Church first ball and finally trapping Robbie Yates LBW to seal the first hat-trick of the 2024 season.
SOS 3s beat Walkovers Warriors by six wickets, Hugo Gomersall starring with his seven-over spell of 3-13, with Joe Griffiths also taking 3-25. Walkovers were bowled out for 142, which was comfortably chased down in the 28th over, runs coming from the top three batters, Tim Oldham finishing unbeaten on 35 and young Gomersall on 18.
OVs 3s were unable to secure a clean sweep for the school alumni club, going down by five wickets to Walkovers Social. Bowled out for just 74 in the 26th over, they put Walkovers under pressure early, Louie Pullman taking three wickets to reduce them to 27-4. But there just weren’t enough runs on the board, and Walkovers got the job done five down in the 19th over.
All scorecards are available for viewing on the CricHQ website.
Week one of the Headway Handicap League will be included in this weekend’s preview.
