Nussbaumer's late burst wins the title
HAT-TRICK heroics from Luke Nussbaumer provided the dramatic late twist as Cobo were crowned Guernsey weekend champions on Saturday.
The title decider fittingly turned out to be a thriller at the KGV, but chasing 143 for victory from 35 overs in a rain-delayed contest, Griffins became favourites to retain the trophy they had won in the last two season having fought their way to 112 for 4 with six overs remaining.
Will Peatfield crucially broke the fifth-wicket stand by removing top-scorer Matt Philp and then Nussbaumer struck with the final two balls of his sixth over and the first ball of his last to swing the match in Cobo’s favour – helped by Kieran Le Gallez removing Jordon Martel in the over in between.
‘I didn’t come on until quite late on and even in my third or fourth over I said to the skipper “I might need to try something different, a few little tricks here because we’re getting a bit desperate”,’ said Nussbaumer.
‘Then Will got Philpy, which was the key wicket and it opened up an end and from there we just managed to keep plugging away and get wickets.
‘Somebody mentioned [it was a hat-trick ball], but ultimately in the game situation every single ball it seemed like the game depended on it, every ball you’re trying to get that wicket, and thankfully I did.
‘It’s my first ever hat-trick as well.’
Tom Veillard took the last wicket to fall as Cobo clinched the title with a narrow five-run victory.
Match report in Monday's Guernsey Press.
