Gibraltar, now happily reunited with their kit that went missing at Gatwick Airport on Saturday, defeated Italy yesterday by 40 runs at the Farmers Field to set up today’s group decider.
Winning the toss, Gibraltar decided to bat first and an 84-run second-wicket partnership between Scott Chipolina and Akhil Viz put them in a strong position.
Chipolina, the more aggressive in a steady partnership, reached his half-century before being stumped for 53 off the bowling of Luca Moscatellini.
Six runs later, on 106, Viz departed for a patient 27 and it triggered a flurry of wickets in the closing overs as Gibraltar looked to post a big total.
But two runs slowed their progress and their 50-over innings eventually closed on 153 for seven.
Italy got off to a good reply putting on 40 for the first wicket but they then struggled against Gibraltar’s three-man spin attack.
Captain Kabir Miruri conceded just 14 runs in his eight overs while Akhil Vix and Robert Skinner were among the wickets with spells of four for 33 and five for 28 respectively as Italy slumped to 113 all out.
The Isle of Man opened their Group B fixtures with a hard-fought three-wicket win against first-day winners Israel at Grainville.
Israel failed to take full advantage as the Isle of Man bowled 40 wides.
Gabriel Schachat top-scored with 38 off 129 balls and together with Shai Divekar they shared a fourth-wicket partnership of 49 before Divekar was out without scoring after facing 64 deliveries! Skipper Oren Chincholkar, who made 41 on Sunday against Germany, helped the score along to 151 for 8 after scoring 33 not out off 50 balls.
Danny Kniveton was the pick of the Isle of Man bowlers, the leading run scorer in Manx cricket last summer, who won his Island’s under-21 player of the year award, impressed taking five wickets for 20 runs in ten overs.
Kniveton also played the anchor r?le in his team’s penultimate over win finishing unbeaten on 35.
Guernsey, like the Isle of Man playing in the U19 tournament for the first time, were frustrated by the weather and with ground conditions unplayable their Group C match with Belgium was abandoned after they had reached 130 for 3, in the 33rd over, with Ben Ferbrache 40 not out.
To qualify for the play-offs for first place tomorrow, between the three group winners, Guernsey must defeat France today at the FB Fields by a more convincing margin than Belgium did on Sunday.
An Isle of Man win against Germany at Les Quennevais today would secure them the Group B section but a Germany success would result in run-rate deciding the group winners.
