Jersey beat Guernsey in nail-biting T20 series
Rain hits first two matches
Zak Tribe's 28 and 25 from Nick Greenwood were the highlights of Jersey's innings in the opening fixture on Friday as they made 116-8 from their 20 overs.Guernsey bowler Martin Dale Bradley impressed with 4-17 and Luke Bichard took 2-17, while Patrick Gouge contributed 21 not out. With rain forecast, Guernsey wasted no time in trying to get the runs they needed as opener Josh Butler hit 33 not out off 30 balls.They were 65-2 off 10 overs when the game was abandoned because of rain - ahead of the rate needed for victory.The weather reduced the second game to 13 overs per side and Guernsey started well - Ben Fitchet (37) and Butler (24) putting on 55 for the opening wicket before Tom Nightingale (16) and Matthew Stokes (15) helped them reach 107-7 despite Perchard taking 4-15.Chasing a revised score of 114 to win from their 13, Jersey reached their target with five balls to spare.Having lost opener Harrison Carlyon to the opening ball of the innings, they recovered as Greenwood (45) and Tribe (19) shared a second-wicket stand of 47.Jonty Jenner hit 32 in a match-winning fourth-wicket stand of 42 with while Julius Sumerauer (15 not out) as Jersey reached 116-3.
Deciding game drama
The rain held off for the deciding match at Grainville, and having won the toss Jersey opted to bat first. It was a decision they looked like they would regret as they lost their opening three wickets for just two runs as Carlyon, Greenwood and Jenner were all sent back to the clubhouse.Sumerauer played an innings-steadying knock of 34 off 21 balls but they were 58-4 when he was bowled by Stokes in the eighth over.Jersey then lost four cheap wickets as they slumped to 74-8 off 11.4 overs as Guernsey seemed certain for a first-ever T20 series win over their rivals - and a first in any format for a decade.But Will Perchard and Charles Perchard came together in an unbroken ninth-wicket stand of 56 - Will hitting 29 off 28 balls and Charles 26 off 23 as Jersey ended on 130-8.In reply Guernsey's batters also faltered as they slipped to 46-4 at the start of the ninth over.Stokes - who went on to score a series-high 66 not out off 48 balls - and Ollie Nightingale (17) advanced the total on to 96-5 with four overs to go. But Guernsey's batters continued to struggle to support Stokes as Charles Perchard returned figures of 3-15 by dismissing Luke Bichard and Adam Martel in the final over. Needing just seven runs, Perchard conceded just three off the over as Guernsey ended on 127-8, giving Jersey the most nerve-wracking of wins."I'm delighted to have got us over the line," added Perchard."I fancy those pressure moments and I'm the captain, I take responsibility for the team."I'm delighted to have executed my skills and backed up by some amazing fielding in that last over as well."
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