Guernsey clubs enjoy that winning feeling in Belasko CI League

Tuesday 09 July 2024

Guernsey sides enjoyed a successful weekend of Belasko CI League cricket.

Defending champions Canaccord Genuity Griffins travelled to play RGA Walkovers at Grainville, while Norman Piette Cobo hosted ATF St Ouen Springfield at the KGV.

At Grainville, Griffins batted first on a track that was taking some turn.

With the innings teetering dangerously for the Sarnian side after the loss of Matt Philp, Ed Robinson, Luke Bichard and skipper Tom Kirk, Isaiah Denton took centre stage with Adam Martel to wrestle back momentum.

Pictured: Marcus Thomas.

The powerful Martel smashed a half-century from just 31 balls, including nine fours and a six, before he was dismissed for Joe Bevis' second wicket, caught by Mikey Pih.

Denton continued to chip away with the lower order, eventually dismissed for 60, Harry Brooks showing his fielding prowess with a catch off the bowling of Nick Ferraby.

Ferraby himself would contribute to the final wicket, a run out of Adam Wakeford, as the reigning champions were bowled out in 41 overs for 189.

With a chase that was reasonable, but certainly not impossible, Walkovers got off to the worst possible start.

In just the first over, Griffins opening bowler Bichard found the outside edge of Pih's bat to send him back for a three-ball duck.

Fellow opener Ferraby would follow soon after for eight, requiring new batters Carnegie and Chadwick to go to work.

This they did, adding a decent partnership before Carnegie chipped a catch to Kirk off the left-arm spin of Martel for 24.
Chadwick then followed him, dismissed lbw again off Martel.

Pictured: Isaiah Denton.

The innings never quite recovered from there. Sam Gott came in at five, but retired hurt early on after suffering a hamstring injury.

Kadeem Caddle held his own, remaining firm at the crease to score 29 before he was caught off the bowling of Adeesha Yapa.

The wickets of Jack Gott and Ben Beeley followed cheaply in quick succession from the bowling of Kirk and Martel.
Bevis showed some intent to score 18, but when Caddle was removed, the game was up. Walkovers were eventually bowled out for 145 in 40.2 overs.

Cobo hit the turbo button

In Guernsey, St Ouen Springfield took to the field with key players Dom Blampied and captain Harrison Carlyon both away with the Jersey men's national side.

Batting first, the new-look SOS opening partnership of Hamish McKeon and impressive teenager Sam Patidar got the visitors off to a superb start.

The pair put on an opening stand of 115 in 26 overs to settle any nerves in the away dressing room.

McKeon was the first to go, however, caught by Will Peatfield off the bowling of Dec Martel for a very well made 59.

The very next ball, Cobo had their second wicket, Ben Heelis stumped first ball for a golden duck.

Tyler Burton joined Patidar at the crease, but he too was removed for just nine by Martel for his third of the day, this time the catch was taken by Tom Nightingale.

Kush Pathak came and went, also for nine, before he was run out by Nightingale.

SOS ended their shortened 35 over innings on 161-4, young Sam Patidar carried his bat for 73 off 95 balls.

Almost from the word go, the Cobo chase was in turbo drive.

Openers Josh Butler and Nightingale seemed to be in a race to see who could reach 100 quicker, with all SOS bowlers being unceremoniously carted around the KGV arena.

Neither would quite achieve the landmark, though both finished close.

Former Guernsey captain Butler ended 75 not out from 42 balls, while Nightingale also finished not out on 82 off just 38 balls.

Butler struck 11 boundaries, Nightingale 12 and both men hit three sixes each.

The game was over in just 13.1 overs, Cobo storming to a comprehensive 10-wicket victory.

Pictured top: A defensive shot from Griffins' Adeesha Yapa as Walkovers' wicket keeper Sam Gott keeps watch.