Having lost to the same opponents in the S E Guy Memorial Trophy match only last week, Centurions, chasing 111, rallied late last night to give themselves a chance of victory off the final ball.Needing three runs to tie the match – and win on wickets lost – Centurions were thwarted by a run out when chasing the match-winning run.The first ever all-Division II final was a low-scoring affair but truly exciting as it came to the climax.Having lost fewer wickets Centurions would have won had the scores been tied.
A three would have secured them the win on 111 runs apiece but a run out going for the third left St Helier winners – the first Division II side to achieve the feat.St Helier skipper Mick Poulter said: ‘It was unbelievably close at the end and during the last over I really didn’t think we were going to win.
It wasn’t a pretty game to watch as we didn’t play that well and in the end we had to grind out the result.”It was a strange game, I think we were a bit subdued because of the heat.
It was just one of those games when we never seemed to really get going.’However we came through and I’m delighted.
Centurions were excellent.
They’re getting better and better with every game.
We had a fantastic season to win two trophies and now we’re targeting the Division II title as well.’St Helier’s Tim Butlin collected the man-of-the-match award, chosen by invited selector Nigel Crocker, after he turned in a good all round performance with 40 runs, including five 4s and a 6, as well as three tidy overs to finish with two wickets for 15 runs.Centurions captain Joel Richardson said: ‘We’re very disappointed not to have won, we were so close to gaining the revenge we wanted for last week’s defeat.
But we can all be proud of our achievements this season as we’ve reached two finals and we’re still in with a shout of the Division II title.’We do recognise what we have done, we’ve beaten Division I teams St Ouen and Abacus to get to the JEP final and that in itself is a major achievement for a club that is only in its second season.’It was pretty nervy in the final over and at one stage I really thought we were going to win.
We did out best but unfortunately it was not to be on the night.’Richardson said Matt Smith had an excellent game with both bat and ball while Peter Brooks, Wil Gorman and Nathan Taylor all bowled tidily and economically to put them in with a great chance of winning the game.The cup, medals and man of the match award were presented by JEP editor Chris Bright.
