JERSEY wrapped up a comprehensive win against Papua New Guinea by seven wickets on Saturday, making it back-to-back dominant wins in their ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League A campaign.
Since a disappointing opening-day defeat to hosts Kenya, Paul Hutchison’s men have rallied off two fantastic performances, demolishing Qatar by 168 runs before putting a strong Papua New Guinea side to the sword to move to top of the group with two games remaining.
After winning the toss, PNG opted to bat first on a deck that has been flat throughout the tournament so far.
However, when Jersey have Julius Sumerauer with the new ball, they are always in the game. The giant quick had the PNG openers hopping around after a few early boundaries, producing a knick from opener Tony Ura, which was smartly taken by wicketkeeper Jake Dunford, before smashing number-three batter and PNG
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skipper, Assad Vala’s front pad off, removed for a first ball duck.
The introduction of Harrison Carlyon’s wily spin proved a master-stroke, as he removed the other dangerous opener Sese Bau for 15, caught well by Zak Tribe.
Carlyon would continue to produce a magnificent spell, finishing with the astonishing figures of ten overs, four maidens, one wicket for just 14 runs.
Captain Perchard said: “After losing the toss and being put into the field, we knew this track had the potential to play flat, although there may be some movement early if we got it right with the ball.
“Julius was sensational with the new rock and really got us under way, he’s such a weapon for us early and our spinners picked up from there really.
“Harrison was absolutely superb again today, he had the ball on an absolute string and he was relentless with his areas.
“PNG are a really good side and they will be disappointed with their performance, but I want to give our boys full credit, we were outstanding.
“We now have a couple of days off to rest and recover, maybe even some golf, and come back firing against Kuwait.”
Charles Amini looked the only man set to steady the PNG ship, however wickets continued to tumble around him, first Hiri Hiri, chipping a catch to Zak Tribe off Sumerauer again, before Nick Greenwood took over.
The right-arm off-spinner took his maiden List A five-wicket haul against Qatar and continued his fine form to take another three wickets.
The Wellington Firebirds professional first removed PNG wicketkeeper Kiplin Doriga for three, Sumerauer this time turning catcher, before taking a smart return catch himself to have Gaudi Toka back in the pavilion also for just three.
At 65-6, Jersey were in dreamland and it only kept getting better for the men in red.
Skipper Chuggy Perchard brought himself into the attack and, using his canny variations and enormous reserves of experience, mopped up the tail beautifully to finish with three wickets.
Despite some late order slogging from the PNG tail, the damage was done early and they finished all out in 37.3 overs for just 112.
No team should be losing chasing that low, and Jersey made light work of the target.
Greenwood was the man to miss out with the bat, caught in the fifth over for just nine with the score 15-1.
However, the technically sound Josh Lawrenson joined Carlyon at the middle and the pair made steady progress through the first half of the innings.
The duo added 49 runs together before Lawrenson was dismissed for a patient 28, with Carlyon joining him back in the hutch for 27 just two overs later, the score sitting at 78-3 in the 21st over.
Fresh off his first List A century against Qatar just two days previous, Zak Tribe, joined by the explosive Jonty Jenner, saw the game home for the Caesareans with a flurry of boundaries.
Tribe finished 13 not out, while Jenner smashed six boundaries on his way to a rapid 32 not out off just 15 balls, a nice return to form after a first-ball duck against Qatar.
Next up for Jersey is Kuwait tomorrow, set to get underway at 7.30am (BST).
Jersey Cricket: Chuggy Perchard (c), Harrison Carlyon, Nick Greenwood, Josh Lawrenson, Zak Tribe, Jonty Jenner, Charlie Brennan, Patrick Gouge, Jake Dunford (wk), Julius Sumerauer, Daniel Birrell
