TOMORROW sees the 2024 season of domestic cricket come to its conclusion, as both ATF St Ouen Springfield and Norman Piette Cobo clash in the Belasko CI League final.
After a superb campaign for both sides, the unbeaten Sarnian team Cobo will host Harrison Carlyon’s SOS at KGV in Guernsey, with the winners being crowned Channel Island Champions.
Cobo, led by Guernsey national captain and former SOS captain Ollie Nightingale, produced an excellent CI League performance this season, going unbeaten to win five of their six matches, with the other rained off.
SOS on the other hand recovered brilliantly after a crushing opening-round defeat in Guernsey to tomorrow’s opponents.
Viewers could be forgiven for thinking this will be a miss-match after looking at their previous fixture’s scorecard, where Cobo delivered the Caesarean side a ten-wicket hiding.
However, as has been the case with all Jersey sides this summer, the lack of availability for away days left SOS desperately struggling to field a strong side in their earlier meeting.
A full-sided fixture between the two powerhouses of CI cricket would be a mouth-watering prospect for local aficionados.
Unfortunately, SOS are facing a familiar dilemma in the final, with no fewer than 15 first-team regulars unavailable, including skipper Carlyon himself.
In his place, Elliot Miles will take the reins of a side who will need to produce their best cricket away from home if they are to be recrowned CI champions.
The stand-in skipper comes into the final off the back off a remarkable spell last weekend, where he took 5-10 to dismantle RGA Walkovers at Les Quennevais, which secured their place in the final.
Carlyon said: “Obviously, the club is really excited by the prospect of having reached our second CI League final.
“Something we are really proud of as a group is having made both finals on offer to first-team clubs this year, including the domestic T20 final.
“Unfortunately we have been hit with an availability crisis, which is due to various reasons beyond our control.
“But I am confident the group we are sending over will do the club proud and do their utmost to bring back the trophy this weekend.
“Elliot [Miles] will be a superb leader for a younger side and will really provide them with an intelligent head and I’m sure any motivation that is also required.”
Miles added: “SOS is a club that loves to give young players a chance to play first XI cricket.
“We believe the 11 we have together has enough experienced players with myself, Peter Gough and Abi Hongekar, combined with some exciting young players, with a chance to play in their first final.
“As a club we think we have what it takes to compete and bring home the trophy on Saturday.
Cobo skipper Nightingale said: “We’re really looking forward to tomorrow.
“Obviously we played some really good cricket in the group stages to remain unbeaten, which we’re very proud of.
“But in a final, we know anything can happen.
“As a team, we just want to carry on enjoying ourselves and continue playing attacking cricket.
“KGV is always a good place to play at and we’re all excited for the last game of club cricket and a chance to win a big piece of silverware.”
Squads
Norman Piette Cobo: Ollie Nightingale (c), Tom Nightingale, Josh Butler, Ben Ferbrache, Zak Damarell, Dec Martel, Will Peatfield, Tony Merrien, Kieran Le Gallez, Charlie Birch, Tom Veillard, Alex Bushell
ATF St Ouen Springfield: Elliot Miles (c), Peter Gough, Hamish McKeon, Ben Heelis, Abhishek Hongekar, Robbie Forrest, Tyler Burton, Tim Oldham, Charlie Best, Barney Aston, Luke Bosio
