Griffins make top three
GRIFFINS achieved the first objective of their Spanish adventure yesterday by qualifying for the European Cricket League Group B top three round-robin on ‘Super Thursday’.
Although the Guernsey champions had another day of mixed fortunes, ending the initial six-team round-robin with a win over Indo-Bulgarian and a defeat to Royal Tigers from Hungary chasing 107 in both games, they did enough to secure third place in the table with a far superior net run-rate to Bjorvika with both sides having accrued six points.
It means that, with the points now reset, Griffins will face Royal Tigers (8am GMT) and Brigade of Ireland (4pm GMT) today in the top-three play-off before Friday’s qualifiers and final.
Once again the short T10 format threw up two more exciting matches for Griffins yesterday in which they snatched victory from jaws of defeat in the first and then let a much more promising position slip in the second.
Having won the toss and opting to bat, Indo-Bulgarian captain Prakash Mishra starred with an unbeaten 67 from 34 balls including five sixes as his side posted 107 for 3.
They then reduced Griffins for 28 for 2, including the big wicket of skipper Luke Le Tissier, and looked favourites to cause an upset, but a brilliant third-wicket stand of 81 between Jason Martin (44 not out) and Jordon Martel (36 not out) saw Griffins home with three balls to spare despite having needed 29 off the last two overs.
In their next game against Royal Tigers, Le Tissier and David Hooper got the run chase off to a great start with an opening partnership of 72, but once wickets started tumbling, Griffins lost all momentum and fell to an eight-run defeat.
