JERSEY got their ICC CWC Challenge League A campaign back on track yesterday with a thumping 168-run win over Qatar, helped by a magnificent century from Zak Tribe and five wickets from Nick Greenwood.
After suffering a heavy six-wicket defeat to hosts Kenya on day one, Paul Hutchison’s men required an immediate pick up for the Qatar clash.
Batting first at Gymkhana Club Ground and naming an unchanged side, openers Harrison Carlyon and Nick Greenwood were positive from the start. However, the latter would fall cheaply, scoring just 11 before being trapped in front LBW.
Josh Lawrenson, who looked lively against Kenya, joined Carlyon, but he too fell cheaply for just 12.
In a spot of bother, Zak Tribe joined Carlyon in need of a rebuild, and that’s exactly what they delivered.
The pair put on a superb third-wicket partnership of 117, controlling the tempo of the innings expertly.
Carlyon had taken his time, reaching his half century off 90 deliveries. Once past the milestone, however, he let fly, crashing his next 39 runs in just 15 balls before he fell, selflessly, caught on the boundary for 89.
Jersey were sitting perfectly on 176-3 with a set batter in and Jonty Jenner the next man in. However, the master-blaster Jenner was not to be, chopping on to his stumps to be dismissed first ball.
The dynamic partnership of Tribe and new batter Charlie Brennan then set to work, smashing a 78-run partnership off just 7.1 overs, which included Tribe’s magic moment.
He brought up his maiden List A century off just 80 deliveries, including eight boundaries and four enormous sixes, one of them clearing the roof and disappearing down the road.
The centurion said: “Cricket really is a funny game.
“To get a first baller the day before against Kenya, then to come out in this game and hit a hundred is a perfect turnaround.
“Sharing that big stand with Harrison [Carlyon] was great, we bounced off each other brilliantly and his 89 went a long way to us setting up that total.
“The boys were excellent with the ball to clean it up in the end, Greeny was superb for his five wickets too.
“All round I think it was a really fantastic bounce back from the Kenya defeat and, personally, I’m delighted to contribute and get that first hundred for Jersey. I’m really proud.”
Brennan would add 31 off 22 balls and, with some handy contributions down the order, Jersey posted an excellent score of 320 all out from the penultimate ball.
In reply, Qatar made a steady start, moving along to 33 for no loss before a magnificent piece of individual skill from Daniel Birrell broke the deadlock.
Qatar captain, Kamran Khan, punched a straight drive back towards Birrell who, in his follow through, stuck out a right hand and clutched it, sparking wild celebrations.
Off-spinners Greenwood, Lawrenson and Carlyon had the ball on a string, with the former picking up a sensational five-wicket haul, also his first in List A cricket.
There was a half century from fellow Qatar opener, Imal Liyanage, but he was removed for 51, superbly caught up at the stumps by Jake Dunford off the bowling of Chuggy Perchard.
Moments later and the captain had his second and Jersey’s fifth, trapping Tamoor Sajjad LBW to leave Qatar 110-5.
With the ball moving off the pitch, Dunford remained up to the stumps as Dan Birrell returned to the attack, looking to vary his deliveries and get some purchase off the wicket.
He succeeded, gripping an off-cutter and trapping Assad Borham in front for just eight for his second wicket of the day.
Two more wickets followed for the wily Greenwood, sealing a fantastic five-wicket haul on an assisting wicket.
Skipper Perchard brought himself back into the fray and took the final wicket, finishing with three wickets himself, as his side sealed a dominant victory.
Jersey Squad: Chuggy Perchard (c), Harrison Carlyon, Nick Greenwood, Josh Lawrenson, Zak Tribe, Jonty Jenner, Charlie Brennan, Patrick Gouge, Julius Sumerauer, Jake Dunford (wk), Daniel Birrell, Asa Tribe, Toby Britton, Will Perchard, Stanley Norman
