FARMERS CRICKET CLUB created history on Friday evening by beating Roma CC by 42 runs to be crowned champions of the European Cricket League. From a potato field in St Martin, to European Champions, Farmers Cricket Club have come a long way. The ECL has hosted some incredible names and teams at the Cartama Oval in Malaga, Spain. Farmers first qualified for the competition by winning the domestic T20 league here on island, and even went as far as qualifying for Championship Week in their second turn the following year. 2024 saw fellow Jersey club Old Victorians almost go all the way, making it a step further than Farmers and reaching the final, where they were sadly beaten by English side Hornchurch. The 2025 edition will see green ribbons on the trophy however, as Farmers overcame Italian champions Roma CC in emphatic style to become the first Jersey club to get their hands on the famous trophy. Farmers were next to flawless throughout their campaign, having to overcome shocking weather conditions and changes in playing formats to comfortably win their group to qualify for Championship Week. The issues continued, as the finals week would take place just days after they had completed their group stage, offering a difficult scenario for players requiring time taken off work, school and university. The never say die attitude of the men in green was present in abundance however, as Jersey stars Zak Tribe and Julius Sumerauer, both serious candidates for tournament MVP, led their side to the title with stunning performances with bat, ball and in the field. The final began with Farmers batting first and if there were any nerves, they were soon settled by the familiar opening combo of Tribe and Sumerauer. Tribe, who ended as one of the tournaments leading run scorers, set about a personal mission against the white Kookaburra, smashing a rapid 21 off just seven balls. However, the Farmers key man was dismissed leg before wicket by a peach of a yorker from paceman Achintha Naththandige early in the second over. Sumerauer continued though, joined by wildcard power hitter Christian Purchase, the pair both standing at 6 foot 5 each and casting an imposing image on the Roman attack. The pair smashed 39 more between them before Purchase was the next man to fall for 22 off just 10 deliveries, thanks to another peach of a yorker trapping him plumb LBW, this time from Khalid Ahmadi. James Smith strode out at number four, but he was just as quickly on his way back, gone first ball to yet another toe crushing yorker, the umpire in no doubt whatsoever in raising the finger and putting a shiver of nerves in the Farmers tent. The returning Stanley Norman was next in, and he stuck around with Sumerauer as he continued bashing the ball to all parts, but he too would go for a well-made 32, caught on the boundary again off the bowling of the impressive Ahmadi. The impressive roman quickie would have his fourth scalp shortly after, as he once again produced a perfect yorker, this time Stan Norman on the receiving end, dismissed for just 2. From a position of strength, Farmers suddenly found themselves 87-5, still with 4.2 overs remaining. The Wildcard selections had been a revelation for Farmers throughout the tournament and, on this occasion, it was Tommy Sturgess to star with the bat, rather than the ball, his unbeaten 31 off just 10 balls helping them eventually post a more than competitive 146-8 from their 10 over innings. Traditionally in this format, somewhere around 140-150 is generally considered a solid score, but anything can happen in a final and the Roman batting lineup featured a man many cricket fans will recognize. With 5 test matches and 27 ODI’s for the Sri Lankan national team to his name, Milinda Siriwardana offered quite the challenge to the Farmers bowling attack, especially considering he was coming into the final off the back of a stunning 119 in the Qualifier. Starting the innings was the formidable swing bowling of Jersey national captain, Chuggy Perchard, a man who has been there and done it all around the world and his first over did not disappoint, costing just 12 runs to set them on their way. As the second over began, it was that man Sturgess again, this time starring with the ball as he removed the danger man for just 5, caught well low down at mid off by Perchard. As if it couldn’t get any better for the wildcard, he found himself on a hat-trick moments later when he removed Samarage first ball, caught at long on by Tribe again, but it was the last ball of the over and he would have to wait for his hat-trick opportunity. As Perchard started the third over however, a team hat-trick was secured, as he produced a wicket inswinger to remove opener Zain Ali clean bowled for 12. Farmers were rocking, as Perchard finished his two over spell with outstanding figures of 1 wicket for just 12 runs conceded. Sturgess was back for the fourth over, but he was sadly unable to complete his hat-trick. The 4th wicket pair began to steady the ship slightly, reaching 52-3 at the half way stage, still requiring a further 95 runs from the remaining five overs however. From there, Farmers continued their dominance, taking a further six wickets as they reduced Roma CC to just 104-9 at the end of their innings. Julius Sumerauer, wo was named tournament MVP after the win, picked up a single wicket, while Scott Van Breda picked up two and Will Perchard snatched an excellent three wickets from his two overs, finishing the tournament as leading wicket taker with 14. Tribe himself finished as the second highest run scorer in the competition, with 365 runs in 11 innings, averaging a massive 91.25 at an eye-watering strike rate of 311.96. As Van Breda hurled down the final dot ball of the tournament, celebrations began and Farmers were officially crowned champions of Europe for the first time. Find the scorecard of the final at the link below; https://www.ecn.cricket/scores-fixtures/scorecard/farmers-vs-roma-cc-live-scores-farrcc03212025255743