ROUND 5 of the DFDS Premier T20 Division tomorrow sees league leaders Farmers travel to second-placed St Ouen Springfield, with Old Victorians in third also on the road against table-proppers Walkovers.
All four sides are still in the hunt for a place in Finals Day, with tomorrow’s fixtures acting as a real “moving day” for the final standings.
The team who finishes top of the division after six rounds will receive an automatic spot in the final, with second and third places qualifying to compete in the semi-final for their spot in the grand showdown.
The overall winner of the competition will earn their spot at the coveted European Cricket League in Malaga in March of 2026. As last year’s winners, Farmers already have their ticket to the Cartama Oval locked in, but if another club are to pip them to the domestic T20 crown, they will be joining them on the plane.
Farmers, currently sat top of the division with 30 points and three wins from four, head to Les Quennevais to take on Harrison Carlyon’s St Ouen Springfield side, who sit second in a massive clash for top spot.
Both sides landed impressive wins last weekend, with Farmers breezing past Walkovers and SOS dismissing OVs, both chasing down small targets for eight-wicket victories.
SOS’s net run rate boost in their win moved them above OVs in the table, while Farmers handed a real dent to Walkovers’ finals day chances, knocking off their chase inside nine-overs.
Both teams’ bowling attacks have been in top form of late and the Les Quennevais track is always challenging for batters so tomorrow’s western clash could be another low-scoring thriller.
Over at Grainville, hosts Walkovers have just one win from four so far in the T20 format and will be looking to brush last weekend aside and return to winning ways against an OVs side who will probably be feeling the same way.
James Duckett’s OVs were heavily depleted in numbers for their defeat last weekend and welcome back some regular first-team names tomorrow, which the skipper will be hoping is a boost to their experience in a crucial match.
Walkovers, however, name a more familiar side and will be hoping to throw the division open with a big win, with a spot in finals day still mathematically possible.
Defeat to the school old boys, however, would make their chances of qualification that much more difficult, but not impossible.
If SOS and OVs were to be victorious tomorrow, we would have our finals day three decided, but they would each be level on points. The final two rounds of this division are intriguing but we will know much more after tomorrow’s fixtures.
SOS against Farmers is set to be hosted at Les Quennevais, with Walkovers and OVs facing off at Grainville, both games scheduled for 10.30am starts.
Moving into Division 1 on Sunday, league leaders Chirpy’s Chiefs travel to Farmers Field to face Farmers, who are currently in fourth place, but tied on points with SOS 2s and International Royals on 40 points.
International Royals, currently in second place on net run rate, will face third-placed SOS 2s at Les Quennevais, with OVs 2s and host Walkovers 2s at FB Fields pitch 1. All three games are set for a 1pm start.
Division 2 sees four games tomorrow, with 12 o’clock starts for Farmers 3s hosting Walkovers Warriors at Farmers Field and OVs 3s welcoming Walkovers Rebels to FB Fields pitch 1.
The 2.30pm games are Chirpy’s Chiefs 2s against International Royals 2s at Les Quennevais, and Walkovers Social hosting SOS 3s at Grainville.
Keep up to date with the league standings here: https://www.jerseycricket.je/weekend-league