THE Channel Islands Over-50s cricket team reached the knock-out stages of the National Championship yesterday.
A hat-trick of victories on tour over the past five days was completed with a 124-run success against Wiltshire, leaving the Credit Suisse-sponsored CI side top of Group 3 with six wins out of seven.
At Trowbridge Cricket Club, the CI ran up a massive 278 for five wickets, in 45 overs, and restricting Wiltshire to 154 for 7 they miss out on the play-offs and qualify for the last eight of the competition.
Until the other groups are concluded it is not yet know who the CI’s next opposition will be or whether they will play in the CI or away.
CI team manager Keith Dennis said; ‘It was a very good win and I was impressed by the determination of our batsmen to put the runs on the scoreboard.
The batting was really impressive.
‘It was not an easy wicket to bat on and after posting our big score the bowlers did the rest.
‘It’s the fourth time we’ve been away and won all three matches on tour; that’s brilliant and it’s been achieved by a tremendous effort from everyone.’ It was a comprehensive CI victory as three players scored half centuries.
Guernsey’s Steve Birkett top-scored with 84 runs while Jersey’s Paul Robson and John Taylor contributed to the cause with 53 runs apiece.
Robson and Birkett put on a third-wicket partnership of 98 while there were also 58 and 60-run partnerships between Birkett and Taylor and Taylor and Greg Sykes.
The batting performance was exemplary with the CI scoring 278 runs off 280 balls.
Robson struck six 4s, Birkett five 6s and seven 4s and Taylor three 6s and four 4s.
Wiltshire made no attempt to go for the victory as Barry Middleton, Birkett and Mike Kinder all bowled economically.
Article posted on 22nd July, 2004 - 12.00am
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