Hosts earn dramatic last-over victory over Gibraltar
Bahrain and Nigeria the other winners on an exciting day in Guernsey
Stuart Le Prevost praised his Guernsey side after it achieved an excellent four-wicket victory over European rivals Gibraltar in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 on Monday.
Le Prevost made a vital 45 in his side’s successful run chase, having at one stage needing nine runs an over to win.
“It was a great run chase by the team and the boys have done really well. We are all really pleased as everybody contributed,” said Le Prevost.
“I was disappointed to get out though as I wanted to take the team through to the end.”
Gibraltar looked like it had set an imposing target of 228 for Guernsey, with Kieron Ferrary making an excellent 90 off 115 balls.
A middle-order collapse saw it being reduced from 127-2 to 151-6, before an eighth wicket stand of 56 between Iain Latin (42 not out) and Kabir Mirpuri (15 not out) helped it to 227-7.
Guernsey openers Lee Savident (53) and Jeremy Frith (36) gave their side a solid start, helping it to 105-1, but it fell behind the required run-rate after the departure of the two batsmen.
Captain Stuart Le Prevost then came into bat and smashed 45 off 41 balls to put his side back in with a victory chance. But when he fell to Ross Harkins, 34 runs were still required and it was left to Justin Meades to score the five runs required for victory in the last over.
Guernsey now faces Japan in its next match, in a game that is rearranged after Sunday’s torrential rain, and Le Prevost said that he won’t be complacent going into the match.
“We’re not going to take anything for granted. We will be going into the game fresh – we know it is a new game and a new day,” said Le Prevost.
Bahrain’s Imran Sajjad signalled his side’s intentions to gain promotion from the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 after scoring a brilliant century in a 161-run win over Suriname.
His innings of 106 was the key to Bahrain’s imposing total of 278-5 in a match reduced to 38 overs a side, with Adil Hanif and Azeem Ul Haque also scoring half centuries.
In reply, Qamar Saeed took 3-10 as Bahrain dismissed Suriname for just 117 all out.
“My coach told me that I needed to play my natural game, but in the first 20 overs I just scored ones and twos, before playing more attacking shots which is my natural game,” said Imran Sajjad.
“I think my team will win promotion this week and we are all very confident.”
In the other game of the day at KG Five, Nigeria recorded a thrilling victory over Japan winning by two wickets with just 11 balls remaining.
An excellent 55 not out from Ko Irie helped Japan to 187-8 off 50 overs, before an exciting run-chase saw Nigeria squeeze home.
Player of the Match Adekunle Adegbola (48), Akabogu Okwudili (32) and Olajide Bejide (30) were the main contributors for the African side, with Gavin Beath (3-20) the pick of the Japanese attack.
“A victory was what we were all looking for,” said Adegbola, whose side takes on Suriname tomorrow.
“We knew that we only needed four runs an over, so we knew that we didn’t need to score a lot of boundaries, and just keep the score ticking over.
“The conditions are totally different to those in Nigeria so you have to adapt to the conditions. I am trying to acclimatize myself to the conditions but I am finding it very cold.”
Sunday’s washed out matches have now been rescheduled for Tuesday and will be played at the same venues as in the original schedule.
Score summaries (day two):
At KG Five: Japan 187-8, 50 overs
Nigeria 188-8, 48.1 overs (Adekunle Adegbola 48, Akabogu Okwudili 32, Olajide Bejide 30; Gavin Beath 3-20)
Nigeria won by two wickets
At Port Soif: Gibraltar 227-7, 50 overs (Kieron Ferrary 90, Iain Latin 42 not out, Richard Buzaglo 35)
Guernsey 228-6, 49.3 overs (Lee Savident 53, Stuart Le Prevost 45, Jeremy Frith 36; Ross Harkins 3-42)
Guernsey won by four wickets
At College Field (match reduced to 38 overs per side): Bahrain 278-5, 38 overs (Imran Sajjad 106, Adil Hanif 60 not out, Azeem Ul Haque 60 not out)
Suriname 117 all out, 36.2 overs (Qamar Saeed 3-10)
Bahrain won by 161 runs