THE penultimate week of the 2024 domestic cricket season is upon us and there’s still plenty to play for.
With the Belasko CI League finale slated for next Saturday, 31 August, ATF St Ouen Springfield sit just one win away from securing a meeting with Guernsey side Norman Piette Cobo for the crown.
Harrison Carlyon’s SOS side have had a fantastic season, now with the chance of reaching their second final of the campaign, after losing out to Farmers Caesareans in the T20 final earlier in the summer.
Standing in their way tomorrow is RGA Walkovers, who produced a strong performance last week to push the OVs. While they are still rooted to the league bottom they will be looking to end their season on a high and spoil the SOS party.
SOS have boasted an excellent bowling attack this season, with their four-strong spin attack causing chaos in many batting line-ups.
The experienced trio of Jersey internationals Carlyon, Dom Blampied and Elliot Miles has been superbly aided by new signing Kush Pathak.
Hosting Walkovers at the spin-friendly Les Quennevais wicket, the boys in blue will have their work cut out to either post or chase against a western side flying with confidence at the moment.
Walkovers, however, have shown excellent signs of improvement this season.
They will be delighted to welcome back all-rounder’s Nick Ferraby and Dylan Kotedia to their ranks, alongside seam bowler Toby Marrett and the experienced Nigel Crocker.
Despite the absence of opening batter and bowler Ross Chadwick, who was superb with the ball last week against OVs, his opening bowling partner Craig Rainford remains in the side after returning excellent figures last time out.
Rainford’s pace and bounce will prove a handful on the tricky Les Quennevais surface, but it’s nothing the SOS batters haven’t experienced before.
SOS have three players in Carlyon, Blampied and Patrick Gouge who could all lay claim to being batter of the year for this campaign, and they will be hoping for one more successful performance to secure that spot in the final.
Gouge in particular has had a magnificent CI league campaign, scoring 329 runs in four innings at an eye-watering average of 109.67, including consecutive scores of 123 followed up with another half century last week.
However, due to their lower net run rate compared to Canaccord Genuity Griffins, who currently occupy second place, nothing but a win will suffice for Carlyon and Co.
Heading across the Island to St Martin’s, Farmers Caesareans host a Rathbones Old Victorians side who find themselves on the precipice of winning the Jersey Premier League.
Although both sides are out of the running in the CI League, the side with the most points out of the Jersey club fixtures claims the Jersey Premier League.
After two crushing defeats away to Sarnian opponents Cobo and Griffins, OVs have rallied in recent weeks, beating both SOS and Walkovers with some strong performances.
After finding themselves reeling at 31-6 last weekend against Walkovers, OVs were strong throughout the lower order to grind out a victory and keep their hopes of season silverware alive.
Skipper James Duckett’s absence will be felt, with former captain Luke Gallichan taking the reins for their season closer and they will be delighted to welcome back left-arm spinner Louis Kelly.
Farmers Caesareans will also be hoping to finish their strong season on a high and have the possibility of securing third in the CI League with a win tomorrow.
After sealing yet another T20 Cup success over SOS earlier in the season, a CI League third-place finish would round off an excellent season for the men in green.
James Perchard’s side will be without leading run-scorer Josh Lawrenson, however, which is certain to leave a dent in their batting line-up.
Waiting in the wings is still a strong line-up, including the powerful young quartet of Jack Kemp, Stan Norman, Will Perchard and James Smith.
Teenage off-spinner Sol Bennett has also impressed this season, and will be backed up this week by fellow finger spinners James Faudemer and Tom Shenton.
Both sides are level on five points, with two wins, two losses and one game each abandoned. However, Farmers have the upper hand on net run rate, meaning the winner of this clash will claim the bragging rights of finishing above the other.
