ST OUEN Springfield upset the defending champions Old Victorians and Farmers’ new signing shone on debut against Walkovers in a massive day in the Brooks Macdonald Premier T20 league.
James Duckett’s OV’s came into Saturday’s clash with St Ouen Springfield riding high from an undefeated start to the campaign. However, Harrison Carlyon’s side showed them how to play at Les Quennevais, producing an excellent 11-run victory.
Winning the toss, Duckett opted to stick with the tried-and-tested method of bowling first, which looked to be the right move when opener Adam Hayward went early after being bowled by Scott Simpson in the third over.
The OV’s’ bowling attack continued to chip away nicely, with the only main resistance with the bat coming from Harrison Carlyon’s end.
The captain carried his bat as he finished 82 not out from 56 balls, including six boundaries and two colossal maximums, as SOS ended on a solid 137-8 from their 20 overs.
Rob Duckett finished with excellent figures of two wickets for just 17 runs, with Matt Webb, Scott Simpson and Theo Pullman claiming a scalp each.
The ever-reliable captain James Duckett continuing his consistent economic figures with the new ball, going for just 14 runs from his four overs. “I thought we were in a good position at half way,” said SOS’ skipper Carlyon.
“Getting up near 140 at Les Quennevais is a good effort, that’s always worth 20 or 30 more up here with the demons in the wicket.
“It was nice to get to spend some time at the crease personally as well. I’ve felt in good rhythm in recent weeks and it was nice to get some in a big game for us.”
In reply, the OV’s chase never got going. An early slog from opener Elliot Corbel ended prematurely when the canny left-arm spinner Elliot Miles turned one past the edge to disturb his stumps for just 10.
Things went from bad to worse when captain Duckett was caught by Miles off Tony Carlyon for a duck.
Ali Webster came out with intent, but when he was out caught and Charlie Brennan followed shortly after for just five, the game felt like it was slipping away.
Luke Gallichan was the man to step up with the bat, eventually finishing 46 not out to give them defending champions a sniff, with some lower order help from Pullman.
But the SOS bowling attack was too strong, particularly in the spin department, as trio Elliot Miles, Harrison Carlyon and Ben Heelis shared seven wickets between them.
OV’s captain James Duckett said: “We just weren’t quite at the races today.
“Harrison played a great knock to get them up to near 140, which was always going to be tricky with their spinners.
“We always think we have the team to chase that score, but the regular wickets cost us.
“We’re still in a good position to finish in top spot and gain an automatic finals day spot.
“That’s massively important to us. We’ve had to play the semi-final before the final on several occasions now and it’s a long day.
“Fair play to St Ouen though, they were the better team on this occasion.”
Over in St Martin, Farmers welcomed Walkovers to Farmers Field and what followed was an absolute procession from new signing, Nick Greenwood.
Joining the club for the month from the Wellington Firebirds in New Zealand, Greenwood joined opening partner Joel Dudley to open the batting in his first game for the club and a dream debut ensued.
The Jersey opener scored 126 not out, with nine boundaries and nine maximums, dominating his team’s score of 187-6. Jack Kemp offered his main assistance, chipping in with 22.
“I think we bowled really well today considering how the innings as a whole played out,” said Walkovers captain, Joe Bevis.
“Greenwood is class, anyone who follows Jersey’s international journey knows what he is capable of.
“But if you remove his score, the rest of the Farmers line up combined for 61-6, which I think was a really good effort from our boys.
“I thought Andy Curtis was excellent for his three wickets. He controlled his end really well and deserved his figures, as well as Jordan [McConnell], who was extremely tidy.”
It was always going to be an uphill battle for a Walkovers line up that was missing key batters in Nick Ferraby and Jonny Gough.
Jack Gott top scored with an unbeaten 24 in a decent 36 run partnership ti finish the innings with the impressive Jordan McConnell, who finished unbeaten on 15.
Robin Carnegie hit 17 up top to give the away side a decent start, with Kadeem Caddle holding the innings together at four with a tidy 21.
But the runs on the board was always too high, and Walkovers fell well short by 87 runs and remain bottom of the league, still searching for their first win of the season.
“We’re delighted with the win, this was an important one for us,” said Farmers skipper, James Perchard.
“It was a dream debut for Greeny, we all know his capabilities but it was great to get to watch him in full flow.
“We’ve brought him in to strengthen our squad and he certainly showed what he can do, with both bat and ball.
“A shout out too to young Oli Rammage on his debut, I thought he bowled really well and handled himself with great composure. He’s one for the future for sure.”
Farmers’ massive win has moved them up to the top of the table, now sitting two just two points ahead of the OV’s and 11 ahead of SOS in third.
With an automatic T20 final spot up for grabs, it’s all looking very interesting at the top.
“It’d be great to finish top of the league and go straight into the final,” continued Perchard.
“With finals day being on our home ground, naturally we want to be in the final.
“But to be there without having to play the semi-final first would be a big boost. Our players will be fresh for the final and I think we’re in an excellent position to make that happen now.”
