JERSEY Cricket continued their strong run of form in the ICC Cricket World Cup Challenge League A, courtesy of a devastating bowling display, earning themselves a 123-run win over Kuwait yesterday and their third victory in succession.
It was an all-Tribe affair with the bat as Asa joined the Caesareans fresh off the back of some stellar performances in Glamorgan colours.
He and brother Zak would both secure half-centuries en route to a 219 total for Jersey, before a quite remarkable performance with the ball, which saw player-of-the-game Josh Lawrenson take a maiden List A five-wicket haul, reducing the Kuwaitis to just 96 all out, and placing Jersey atop the CWC Challenge League A after yesterday’s action.
Jersey captain Chuggy Perchard said: “Credit to Kuwait’s bowlers, they really made us scrap for 219.
“It was a challenging wicket, which took some turn and the bounce was hard to pick.
“Their spin bowlers made good use of that, but it was a brilliant effort from the Tribes [Zak and Asa] as well as Julius [Sumerauer] and Jake [Dunford] down the order to add some important runs.
“We still felt that effort was a bit below par, but it was a top effort with the ball.”
Jersey were without some key spin options, on a surface which cried out for it.
Nick Greenwood recently left the camp to return to South Africa, while Ben Ward and Elliot Miles were not in the squad.
Despite the absentees, the remaining options at Perchard’s disposal stepped up admirably.
“Julius set the tone, taking a wicket with the first ball of the innings and was beautifully backed up down the other end by Harrison [Carlyon], who bowled superb line and length, constantly asking questions of the batters,” added the captain.
“All our bowlers did so well at using the conditions in our favour and obviously a massive mention for JL [Josh Lawrenson].
“It’s a maiden List A five-wicket haul for him and was truly an outstanding spell.
“We are lacking in the spin department, so to see the likes of Josh, Harrison and others step up and really thrive is brilliant to see.”
Meanwhile, Lawrenson also commented on the bowler-friendly surface: “It was really interesting to see the pitch start to go up and down.
“There was a lot of aerial bounce and it began to spin a lot as it deteriorated.
“The plan was to hit the top of the stumps and force them to play across it and it worked well.
“From a personal standpoint, I’m delighted to take my first List A five-for and we are just all looking forward to Denmark up next.”
The Middle Eastern side won the toss and stuck Jersey into bat.
After a steady start, Harrison Carlyon was bowled by Yasin Patel in the seventh over for 11, before fellow opener Josh Lawrenson (17) followed in the 11th – also bowled – this time by Mohammed Aslam.
Asa Tribe then shared the crease with brother Zak, forming a quite brilliant partnership.
The tandem dove-tailed well to both reach half-centuries to stick Jersey firmly in the driving seat.
Zak was first to depart after a run-a-ball 57, featuring seven boundaries and a maximum, cleaned up by Meet Bhavsar.
Next man in Jonty Jenner was sent back to the hutch for a fourth-ball duck, as Kuwait battled back.
Asa Tribe would last just three more overs, walking off with a disciplined 53 from 90 balls.
Unfortunately for Paul Hutchison’s Jersey side, middle-order runs were scarce.
Charlie Brennan and Patrick Gouge added just nine and 12 respectively, as the men in red faltered from 139/2 to 170/7.
Julius Sumerauer (19) and Jake Dunford (24) provided vital runs at the tail as Jersey would eventually walk off for 219 all out in the final over – a total that they had a fighting chance of defending.
If captain Chuggy Perchard wanted an immediate impact from his bowlers, Sumerauer duly obliged.
The pace bower cleaned up Bhavsar with the opening ball of the innings, giving the Kuwait opener the unenviable accolade of a “Royal Duck”.
It did not get any easier for those in the middle, as Harrison Carlyon got in on the act in the second over, as Ali Zaheer chipped one into Josh Lawrenson’s clutches at mid-off.
The floodgates had opened and the opening bowling duo poured through.
Carlyon grabbed the next, trapping Ravija Sandaruwan plum in front to reduce a toiling Kuwait to just 20/3, before the wicketkeeper Dunford took centre stage.
Sumerauer found the outside edge of Mohammad Amin, sending Dunford leaping to his right to secure a quite brilliant catch.
Kuwait were 23/4, with their hutch looking somewhat shell-shocked at Jersey’s destructive bowling attack.
Carlyon struck once again the very next over – his canny offbreak this time caught the Kuwaiti wicketkeeper Usman Patel LBW.
It would be the Jerseyman’s third wicket in as many overs, for just five runs conceded.
Sitting at 23/5 the writing was on the wall.
Shiraz Khan (12), Yasin Patel (16) and captain Mohammed Aslam (19) did their best to frustrate the Islanders, but all fell victim to the remarkable Lawrenson, whose relentless performance dismissed the entire Kuwaiti order between five and ten.
The spinner, better known for his prowess with a bat in hand, would trap Bilal Tahir LBW for a duck before also taking the scalp of Sayed Monib (14) to earn all of Jersey’s remaining five wickets and in turn a maiden List A five-wicket haul.
