JERSEY moved a huge step closer to a World Cricket League Division V semi-final on Friday following a seven-wicket Group A win against youthful Botswana at the Farmer’s Field in St Martin yesterday.

Only Afghanistan’s shock defeat in the same group leaves the door slightly ajar for the Asians and their conquerors, Singapore, to squeeze the hosts out on run rate, but that is most unlikely. And if all today’s Group A matches are wiped out by the rain, then Jersey will qualify as group winners.

Island captain Matt Hague won his first toss in the tournament and putting Botswana in to bat they were soon struggling to be eventually all out for a total of 66 runs – three balls short of completing 40 overs.
Jersey did however lose the wickets of Steve Carlyon, Jamie Brewster and Chris Jones in their run chase but they were comfortable victors reaching their target in 15.2 overs.

Opener Peter Gough again guided Jersey steadily towards the winning line and hitting his fifth boundary of another steady innings to win the match, he finished Jersey’s top scorer with 39 runs off 43 balls.