David Piesing
26 May 2008

Guernsey merely underlined the price they had paid for underperforming in Glasgow in 2006, thereby missing qualification for World Cricket League Division 5, by emphatically thrashing the Jersey-bound Bahamas at Port Soif.

Batting first, Guernsey made 276 for 8 in 50 overs with Jeremy Frith (72) and opener Matt Oliver (68) being the main contributors. Oliver's opening partner, debutant Ross Kneller, also contributed with a fine 32 out of an opening stand of 108.

In reply, the Bahamians lost wickets steadily from the outset as seamer Tim Duke took the first 4 wickets despite struggling with his radar with the new ball, ending with 4 for 33. The Guernsey "spin king" pair of off-spinner Gary Rich (0 for 19 in 9 overs) and left-armer Frith (5 for 19 in 8.4 overs) then turned the screw as the visitors were dismissed for just 118 in 39.4 overs.

© Guernsey Cricket Board

David Piesing
26 May 2008

In their final warm-up game before WCL Division 5 in Jersey, Nepal were given a tough game by a Guernsey side anxious to impress at Port Soif.

Nepal won the toss and elected to bat but found themselves in deep trouble at 65 for 5 against some excellent Guernsey bowling and fielding. They were rescued by a partnership of 103 between Sarad Veswarka (72 from 139 balls) and Mahaboob Alam (45 from 59 balls) to close on 209 for 7 in 50 overs. Seamer Stuart Bisson was the pick of the Guernsey bowlers with 2 for 18.

Guernsey were well aware of the potency of Nepal's seam attack and Alam struck immediately with the wicket of Mark Jefferies with one of his big inswingers. The wickets of Matt Oliver, GH Smit and Tim Ravenscroft soon followed as Guernsey found themselves at 40 for 4. Skipper Stuart Le Prevost with a hard-fought 41 steadied the ship with the in-form Jeremy Frith (24) and the pair were batting their side back into the game before Frith, batting with a runner, was run out. Le Prevost kept going and seemed unfortunate to be adjudged leg before when sweeping. With his dismissal the home side's chances were eroding, despite a batting line-up which went all the way down to 11, and Rajkumar Pradhan's legbreaks wrapped up the tail with 4 for 36 as Guernsey were all out for 136 to fall 73 runs short with more than 6 overs remaining.

Guernsey were left in no doubt about the quality of Nepal's bowling attack but had perhaps revealed that Nepal's batting was not as strong as its bowling. Guernsey will no doubt be watching closely to see how both Nepal and the Bahamas fare in Jersey, as well as monitoring Jersey's performances after having already beaten Jersey twice in earl season friendlies.

© Guernsey Cricket Board