JERSEY scored nine runs off the final over to beat Minor Counties Norfolk by one wicket at Grainville on Saturday.

It was a nail-biting affair in the end after Jersey had restricted Norfolk to 174 for nine wickets in 50 overs.

Jersey were cruising at 131 for one before then losing their way.

Despite scoring just a handful of runs in their penultimate four overs they reached their target with the last pair at the wicket, Martin Waite and James Caunt, to snatch victory off the last ball.

Chris Minty, Jersey’s director of cricket, said: ‘It was a very good win, although slightly fortuitous.

Our middle order collapsed and that put us under a lot of pressure.

‘But we managed to grind out a result and that was really pleasing.

‘We had Norfolk at 60 for 5 and that was excellent but we let them off the hook and they managed to score 179.

‘We are learning and we have areas to work on.

We obviously have to work on finishing teams off, both when we’re in a good position bowling and also when batting.

‘Losing four wickets for three runs was a blow, but a win is a win and winning is a good habit.

We play Nottingham University in two games this weekend and I hope we can maintain our winning run.’ Jersey won the toss and captain Ryan Driver put Norfolk in and they were reduced to 60-5 after 20 overs.

However an 86-run sixth-wicket partnership between Steven Gray, 50 not out, and Luke Newton, 40, took Norfolk to a respectable 174 for 9 off their allotted 50 overs.

Chris Jones took three wickets for 23 runs, Peter Blackburn two for 32 and Tony Carlyon, off four overs, two for 11 runs.

Jersey openers Peter Gough and Dave Morfee put on 74 runs for the first wicket before Morfee departed in the 21st over having made 22.

Jonny Gough joined his brother Peter, who batted superbly, at the crease and took Jersey to 131 for 1.

Peter Gough went for a classy 75, Jonny Gough for 18 while Jones and Ryan Driver failed to trouble the scorers.

Four wickets had fallen for only three runs and Jersey were on 134 for five requiring 40 to win from ten overs.

Danny Bertram hit three fours to take the score to 157 for 5.

Five overs were left with Jersey now needed 17 to win.

Bertram went for 15, one of two run outs, and with the bowlers on top Jersey reached the final needing nine to win.

A run came from each ball, plus a wide, and from the final ball Jersey needed three to win.

They ran two for the tie and with nothing to lose they went for a third – and they got it following a terrible throw from the wicket-keeper’s end.