THE Belasko Channel Island Cricket League continues tomorrow with three Jersey sides sorely in need of positive results.
Only 2019 CI League winners ATF St Ouen Springfield have recorded a win in one of their two games, unlike the other three Jersey clubs.
RGA Walkovers have also played twice, unfortunately recording two defeats, alongside Rathbones Old Victorians and Farmers Caesareans who played their first fixtures last weekend, both suffering losses.
Meanwhile, the Guernsey sides have already played four rounds of fixtures.
They needed to play as many games as possible before their national side goes away to compete in an ICC tournament in August.
Tomorrow, the OVs make their second consecutive away trip, travelling to KGV to take on table-topping Norman Piette Cobo.
The strong Sarnian side boasts several Guernsey national team players and have been in excellent form for their 100% win record so far.
Struggling with player availability last week, James Duckett’s side fell to a humbling 203-run defeat at the hands of Canaccord Genuity Griffins.
Tomorrow, they travel without their captain, leaving the experienced and recently internationally capped fast bowler Scott Simpson to man the ship.
However, the school alumni side are bolstered by the return of teenage sensation Charlie Brennan at the top of the order, as well as fast bowling duo Matt Webb and Theo Pullman, additionally with recent Division 1 T20 final player of the match, Jamie Clayton also receiving a call-up.
OVs will have to nullify the Nightingale brothers, Ollie and Tom, who, despite contrasting styles, have both been in sparkling form with the bat.
A win for the boys in yellow and black would provide a huge boost entering the latter stages of the season.
Enjoying a home fixture this week are Farmers and SOS, the former of which is set to host TENN Wanderers Irregulars at Farmers Field, and the latter welcoming Griffins to Les Quennevais.
Farmers looked good last weekend in their clash with Cobo, reducing their opponents to 20-3 early on before Ollie Nightingale’s 91 steadied the ship.
Josh Lawrenson’s 83 was the highlight of the Farmers reply, but the rest of the card left room for improvement, not dissimilar to OVs.
They face a Wanderers Irregulars side who have been struggling for form, currently fourth in the league with one win from four.
In the absence of skipper James Perchard, brother and Island captain Chuggy Perchard will assume the reins for the day, with the experienced Tim Townsend taking the gloves in the absence of young star Jack Kemp.
Finally, SOS and Griffins offer a very interesting contest between, on paper, two very well matched sides.
Both sides have strong attributes in the spin department, as well as batters who can occupy the crease for long periods of time.
SOS skipper Harrison Carlyon will be delighted to welcome back the experience and international pedigree of all-rounder Anthony Kay, as well as Jon Best to add to their already extremely strong batting line-up.
After a century from Patrick Gouge, and another unbeaten half century from Dom Blampied last week, SOS are primed to make a charge for the top of the league in the coming weeks.
A win for either side will boost their table rankings and keep them in the running for a finals day spot on at Grainville on 26 August.
