The much anticipated return of Asa Tribe to a Jersey shirt was not one to be missed, as the Glamorgan star scored his third consecutive List A century, smashing 175 from 156 deliveries to help Jersey overcome Papua New Guinea by 160 runs.
Batting first, Jersey looked in real trouble early on as the spirited PNG opening attack claimed the wickets of Harrison Carlyon, Nick Greenwood, Josh Lawrenson and Jonty Jenner with just 15 runs on the board.
Tribe, batting at 3, looked a class above the rest and appeared at times to be batting on a different surface to his colleagues.
Lower order assistance came in the form of wicket-keeper Jake Dunford (23) and Julius Sumerauer (28), as Tribe continued to control the innings, reaching his half century from 61 deliveries.
Dom Blampied was the man at the other end as Tribe moved to 99, but he was removed caught behind, before captain Chuggy Perchard followed suit just two balls later, leaving Tribe standing at the non-strikers end and number 11 George Richardson required to see out the final two balls of the over.
Thankfully for Tribe and the many in attendance, Richardson survived and Tribe made his way to his century from 118 deliveries to a standing ovation from his adoring home crowd at Farmers Field.
With Richardson channeling his inner Rahul Dravid at the other end, Tribe cut loose after passing three figures, smashing a further 75 runs from just 34 deliveries in a brutal onslaught that saw him finish 175 from 156 deliveries, including 19 fours and 4 towering sixes.
Tribe was removed off the first ball of the final over, caught on the long off boundary having contributed 67% of his team’s eventual 261 all out. His efforts meant he has now secured a personal career high score in each of his last 3 innings, having scored 122* and 131* for Glamorgan before this game.
Jersey went on to dismantle the PNG batting line up, bowling them out comprehensively for just 101 in the 31st over, with Carlyon, Sumerauer, Richardson, Blampied and Greenwood each claiming 2 wickets apiece.
Check out tomorrow’s JEP for the full match report.
