Cricket: Jersey win European Division I – watch the highlights

• Jersey win European Division I for the first time
• The Island side have booked a place at the world T20 global qualifier
• Head coach Neil MacRae delights in ‘greatest moment of my coaching career’

IT was a historic occasion for Jersey cricket yesterday, as the Island side secured their place in a twenty20 World Cup Global Qualifier for the first time, after a dramatic, enthralling and tantalising final day of European Division I action.

The success means Neil MacRae’s men will now travel to Scotland and Ireland to compete at the highest level they’ve ever reached in the shortest international form of the game.

While the global qualifier is now very much something to look forward to, yesterday morning it remained an elusive dream as Jersey began the day second in the tournament table, trailing defending champions Italy on net run rate.

However, a comprehensive four-wicket defeat of Guernsey at Farmer’s – completed with more than five overs to spare – put the hosts in the driving seat as spectators, coaches and players alike nervously waited for the Italy v Denmark result, which was being played simultaneously at Grainville.

Glued to their smartphones and tablets, the players soon realised the Danes had triumphed, meaning Jersey moved to summit of the table and, in turn, secured the one available place in the global qualifier.

Captain Peter Gough said: ‘It feels amazing and … I’ve got very few words to describe it at the moment.

‘We came into the tournament knowing we could win it but not really focusing on what it meant if we did win it. Having the chance to go and play against the bigger associate countries is amazing.

‘We’ve been trying to get past this tournament several times. We played Italy in two semi-finals and never went through so it’s incredible to go through this time.’

The largest of the Channel Islands had never before managed to finish higher than third in the biennial event but, even before the five-day tournament began, there was an air of confidence around the hosts’ squad.

That confidence was transformed into momentum on Saturday, as Jersey thrashed Norway before registering a nail-biting victory over Italy.

The Islanders bounced back from a disappointing reverse against Denmark on Monday morning by beating France with plenty to spare in the afternoon, which set up a dramatic final day of competition yesterday.

Four teams were tied at the top of the table, each with three wins from four, meaning any one of Italy, Denmark, Jersey or Guernsey could have gone on to claim the title.

Trailing the Italians on net run rate, Jersey knew they required Denmark to do them a favour at Grainville.

With that thought banished to the back of their minds, however, the Reds started positively in St Martin.

A tight first over from Anthony Kay was followed up well by Corné Bodenstein, who took his side’s first wicket in just the second over.

Following that dismissal, the Sarnians began to build their innings, with Tim Ravenscroft impressing alongside Tom Kimber.

However, despite not picking up wickets, Jersey’s bowling and fielding was excellent as they restricted Guernsey to just 35 runs in the powerplay.

With the Sarnian duo looking increasingly comfortable at the crease, it was man-of-the-match Nat Watkins who struck at the crucial time to remove both of the danger men in successive deliveries. Former Hampshire starlet Ravenscroft was the first to depart, having been caught by Bodenstein at long off, and he was followed to the dressing room moments later by Kimber, who was caught by Corey Bisson at long on.

From there Guernsey laboured to their final total of 121-9 in their allotted overs, as Watkins finished the innings with an excellent four wickets for 18 runs from his four overs.

It was a wicket that favoured spin bowling and, when chances came their way in the field, Jersey were quick to capitalise.

While the left-arm spinner had been particularly prominent, he was well supported by the other bowlers, who were deftly rotated by Gough to prevent the batsmen from settling. Ben Stevens again bowled economically, while teenager Rhys Palmer took two wickets in the final over to finish with three for 26.

Knowing how crucial run rate could be, the hosts started their chase positively, with skipper Gough leading the charge for his team.

There were moments of joy for the Sarnians as wickets fell at regular intervals but their euphoria was always short-lived as the new man in was often quick to pick up where his teammate had left off.

An excellent knock of 36 runs from Bodenstein had Jersey with their noses on the finish line, before Kay and Bisson guided their team home with plenty of deliveries to spare.

It was a performance worthy of the title of champions and, while the nervy post-match wait lasted longer than many would have liked, Jersey can now make plans to take on the world.

Gough added: ‘We’ve been working hard on twenty20 cricket and had almost a bit of a culture change in how we try to play it.

‘We try to be as positive as we possibly can and try to play with no fear – not worry if we lose a wicket, not worry if we miss a ball, but just keep trying to be positive.

‘We’re nowhere near the finished article but we’ve come a really long way, even in the last six months. We just want to keep that going.’

IS there no limit to Neil MacRae’s aspirations for this Jersey team?

No sooner had he guided the Island to their maiden European Division I triumph – and, in turn, secured a place at the twenty20 World Cup Global Qualifier for the first time in Jersey’s history – than the head coach was already considering the next step.

For many, the chance to play against the top associate nations in the world, including the likes of Scotland, Ireland and Afghanistan, would be an unforgettable moment in itself, yet the former Scotland international has already set his sights on a place at the 2016 T20 World Cup.

With 14 teams attending the qualifier, it’ll be a tough ask for a small island with a population of just 100,000 to finish in the top six and progress to the ultimate showdown but MacRae says it is not out of the question.

Speaking directly after his team had beaten Guernsey by four wickets at Farmer’s Field yesterday afternoon – and endured a nail-biting half an hour wait to hear the result of the match between Italy and Denmark at Grainville – MacRae said: ‘We’re going to go and try and be one of the top six teams and go to the World Cup.

‘A year ago, this would have sounded like a lot as we had never finished in the top two of European Division I but we’ve won the tournament. We’ve got some class in this team, we’ve certainly got courage and we’ve got the ability to move forward at a rapid pace.

‘It sets up an incredible opportunity to go to a global qualifier, play some teams who we’ve seen playing in World Cups already, but also have a genuine crack at coming in the top six out of 14 sides.’

Yesterday proved a fitting climax to a hugely entertaining tournament, as Denmark beat Italy by 16 runs to help Jersey’s cause. The Islanders finished top of the table, with four wins from five matches, pipping the Danes to the title on net run rate.

MacRae, who described the tournament win as the best moment in his coaching career, added: ‘It’s just unbelievable. The emotions of the tournament have been something that you don’t experience very often.

‘The first day against Italy at Farmer’s set the tone – for anyone who witnessed those scenes, that will live long in the memory. On Monday against Denmark, we didn’t play our best cricket but we showed a lot of character to bounce back against France.

‘Here today, to come and play our best cricket of the tournament was great and then there was a situation I’ve not come across in cricket before, where you wait for half an hour at the end of the game to find out if you win the tournament.

‘Fortunately that result has gone for us and the players should take huge credit for the way they have attacked this tournament and the courage they’ve shown to play a different brand of cricket.

‘Ultimately, we’re a young side that’s been improving over the last 18 months. We’ve come up to the level of Italy and Denmark and this is the first time we’ve won a T20 tournament so huge credit to the players for what they’ve achieved for Jersey.’

Chairman of the JCB, Ward Jenner paid tribute to the Island coach.

‘It is a fantastic moment for us and it’s a great achievement from a young squad with a really committed coach,’ he said.

‘Macca has put his stamp on this team. When we interviewed him, he talked about three things he wanted to achieve – the 50-over performance and where he thought he could take us, our promising under-19 side coming through, and he also talked specifically about this tournament and where he thought a young, agile, fit team could take us.

‘I sometimes thought he was perhaps overly optimistic but he’s got a fantastic, cool, dry, laconic way about him – what I love about him as a coach is that he lets people express themselves. He keeps a tight rein but allows players to play their cricket and I think some national coaches could take a leaf out of his book.’