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It could not have been much tighter, but it was the men in red celebrating at Grainville after edging a two-wicket win with just one ball to spare in the 50 Over Inter-Insular.
The Sarnians had a frustrating morning of delayed travel which cut the match to 45 overs a piece, more overs were later lost to rain.
Jersey captain Chuggy Perchard won the toss and with little hesitation, decided to send Guernsey into bat in tricky conditions.
Guernsey went on to make 204 for 7, with Matt Stokes’ 85 from 95 balls key and another vital contribution from captain Ollie Nightingale with 49.
Matt Stokes brings up his half century off the final ball of the 28th over.
— Guernsey Cricket (@guernseycricket) September 7, 2024
It comes off 60 balls, including six fours.
We are 120/4.#Guernsey #Cricket #GreenCaps pic.twitter.com/GrpVFvMrYV
Things appeared to then all be going Jersey’s way.
Their openers Stan Norman and Harrison Carylon put on 115 for the first wicket.
The Sarnians seemed to have few answers as the game rapidly slipped away from them, but then the momentum shifted.
Norman was cleaned up by Bichard for a debut innings of 58 from 68 balls.
Just three overs later, all of a sudden Guernsey were firmly back in the game, Josh Lawrenson the second man dismissed, caught behind superbly by Zak Damarell standing up to the medium pace of Dane Mullen.
A fine catch diving forward from Josh Butler took Carylon’s wicket to throw the game wide open as he strode back for a man of the match worthy 73.
Zak Tribe was dismissed for 18 by impressive young seamer Charlie Forshaw.
With the score now 180-5 and 25 runs still needed to win, Guernsey were on the up.
Just three balls later Jersey wicketkeeper Jake Dunford was caught and bowled by Forshaw again for a duck. The game was wide open.
Julius Sumerauer and Charlie Brennan looked to nudge the ball around and take as many off the target as possible.
Then the tall paceman was dismissed for seven in the 40th over, followed shortly after by skipper Perchard for just three.
It was the last over of the match, Jersey needed five runs to win.
Scott Simpson, a 32 year old debutant, strode out to meet his 18-year-old Old Victorians teammate in the middle.
Stokes had the ball in hand.
As the crowd held its breath, the winning moment came in a blaze of emotion.
Stokes arrowed one down on Simpson’s pads and he whipped the ball away to the boundary, jumping and punching the air in delight.
???? MENS CRICKET ????
— Jersey Cricket (@cricketinjersey) September 7, 2024
Jersey retain trophy in this year’s Inter Insular!
In a tight finish going down to the last over, Jersey win ???????? finishing on 207/8 with 1 ball remaining… ????@BrooksMacdonald | #backingred???????? pic.twitter.com/EwgTKy6xx9
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