ST HELIER and Beeches are set to battle it out in the JEP Knockout Cup final this evening, in a repeat of the 2018 and 2019 showdowns.
Beeches triumphed in both of the pre-pandemic meetings but St Helier will certainly hold high hope for 2022 following a stellar display in the semi-finals.
A stand-out batting performance by Asa Tribe, producing 126 runs, steered the parish club past Old Victorians to keep alive their chances of ending the Evening League campaign with some silverware. In the adjacent semi-final, it was Joel Dudley who stole the show for Beeches, after hitting half-a-ton against Trafalgar Pirates.
Beeches captain James Perchar said: ‘It’s great to be back in the JEP Cup final. It’s a highlight of the Evening League calendar and the boys are excited to get back in there.
‘It’s anyone’s game. The biggest dangerman out there for them is Asa Tribe and he’ll be a crucial wicket. If he bats for a long period of time he has the potential to change the game. They also have a couple of other danger players who we need to be aware of and if we don’t get early wickets it will be a difficult day.
‘We have a mixture of youth and experience in our side. A few lads are playing in their first cup final, which is exciting and always a joy to see. We’re missing one or two from our best XI but we have definitely still got a strong side.’
Meanwhile St Helier’s captain ,Ollie Nightingale, is hopeful they can deny Beeches what would be fifth JEP crown in eight seasons.
‘We have a couple of the older boys who are still around and involved last time [2018 and 2019 finals] but we have brought in quite a lot of younger guys. We’re always got a chance, because it’s only 20 overs, and we’re pretty lucky that Asa [Tribe] has been in good form. We have a couple of other guys who have one well this season too, so fingers crossed.
‘Our bowling is probably not quite as strong but with the batting line-up we’ve got I think we can chase anything. It’s just about restricting them with the ball as much as we can.’
The first ball is due to be bowled at 6pm at Grainville.
