FARMERS Cricket Club completed a magnificent NatWest Indoor Cricket League Division I and Division II double in dramatic fashion last night.
At Fort Regent, Farmers A took the Division I honours without bowling a ball while Farmers B were staring defeat in the face when Peter Simon dug them out of a furrow, by delivering a brilliant last over to secure victory over the Jersey Cricket Association Seniors.Nearest-challengers Old Victorians needed to beat JUBRFC to take the Division I title on a better season’s run-rate per over, but after restricting the Banks to 99 all out (Danny Bertram 42) in 12 overs they then slumped to 60 all out following a couple of run outs and some poor shot selection.Farmers A captain Joel Richardson, who missed the drama because of baby-sitting duties, said: ‘It’s fantastic to win both divisions, everyone is delighted.
The A team have bowled brilliantly all season and that’s been instrumental in our success.
We’ve not impressed with the bat but bowling-wise teams have found it difficult to get runs off us.
Winning has come as a result of an excellent team effort.’The Division II title was settled on the penultimate ball of the match in the last game of the evening.
But the victors had to wait an agonising five minutes for the calculations to be made before they were given the good news - a 9.83 run-rate against Springfield’s 9.60.Earlier Farmers B looked to have lost out in the title chase as they struggled to reach 96 for five in 12 overs with Dave Buxton top-scoring with 47 against the Seniors.Going into the final over the Seniors had two wickets left and they required six runs to win off six balls.
But their victory hopes were grounded as Peter Simon bowled a tidy over and taking the wickets of Peter Glennon, who was caught, and Tom Gales, bowled, Farmers B won a nail-biting match by two runs.Farmers B captain Charlie Ahier said: ‘Things were going against us towards the end last night but we managed to hang in there and come through in the end.
It’s been a great team effort throughout.
I didn’t think we’d pull things back after losing two of our first three league games but we’ve managed it with a good momentum throughout.’Springfield did all they could do on the night too as they beat Lord’s Taverners JJCA I by five wickets.
The Juniors totalled 108 with Springfield reaching their target with 11 balls to spare.
Springfield’s Alan Lesbirel, who also took three wickets, top-scored with 26 while Paul Robson and Peter Canham contributed with 25 and 24 respectively.The game turned Springfield’s way in the eighth over when Richard Parker hit 15 runs off three deliveries, two sixes and a three.Abbey National Offshore took third place in Division I after they defeated LTJJCA II by three wickets.
LTJJCA II were restricted to 72 by some steady bowling all round and in their reply Nigel Crocker and Richard Gomersall both hit 25 runs for a three-wicket victory in the 11th over.
Article posted on 2nd March, 2004 - 12.00am
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