Player of the tournament Evans is congratulated on a wicket. Picture: ICC/CricketEurope

JERSEY’S Under-15 cricketers lost out on the ICC European Division I title after a rain-hit final day yesterday, having led throughout the week in Dundee, Scotland.

And galling it must be for Peter Gough’s charges that their only defeat of the week, at Forthill, came against bottom side Denmark. It allowed the home side of Scotland to take the title.

The Danes triumphed by five wickets in a match interrupted by rain and then reduced, initially, to 34 overs. Jersey struggled to 126 for eight in their 34 overs, but when the weather forced another readjustment, Denmark reached the revised target of 101 in 27 overs for the loss of five wickets, with just over six overs to spare.

Ryan Evans – who was presented with the Player of the Tournament Award last night – took two early wickets, but it was not a day when the Island side clicked.

Said manager Chris Minty: ‘It was a messy game, with several interruptions and the revised target probably suited Denmark’s game. We didn’t play particularly well but it’s gutting to lose like that. Over the week, however, the boys did superbly well.’

Jersey’s shock defeat – it was Denmark’s only victory of the week – opened the title door for Scotland, who beat Ireland on run rate in another rain-affected match at Arbroath, thus tying with Jersey on seven points, but knocking the Island team into second place overall with a superior run rate.

It’s still a tremendous performance from the Island youngsters, finishing ahead of Ireland in third, Netherlands in fourth, Guernsey fifth and basement boys Denmark – but they will rue the poor fortune that had them going for a frantic victory in such poor conditions.