JERSEY captain Charles Perchard struck the winning blow as Jersey claimed their first ever victory at Lords Cricket Ground yesterday afternoon.
Facing the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodians of Lords, jersey travelled to England’s capital to take them on in what was scheduled for two T20 fixtures. After a delayed start due to rain, the hosts won the toss and sent Jersey into bat.
Harrison Carlyon was the man to face Jersey’s first ball at Lords, partnered at the other end by Patrick Gouge, and the pair started well taking nine runs from the first over to settle the nerves.
Carlyon would fall in the next over though, caught behind off the bowling of Irish international paceman Fionn Hand. His partner Gouge however was looking in ominous touch on his way to an impressive 31.
(Photo: Jed Leicester / MCC)
Gouge would finish top scorer, as Jersey wobbled slightly from 84 for 4 at the halfway stage, only making 61 runs from the final ten overs to conclude 145 for 7, Dom Blampied (29) and skipper Perchard (13) adding some late fireworks.
In reply, Jersey could not have had a better start after Dan Birrell, opening the bowling from the iconic Pavilion End, drew Tim Tector into a lofted pull shot towards the short boundary, only for 19 year-old Charlie Brennan to take a stunning diving catch on the boundary.
The hosts would take those winds out of the sails however, as other Irish international Harry Tector and South African Travis Norris combined for a 111 run partnership in 134 overs to all but seal the game.
Norris, who was put down from a difficult chance to Julius Sumerauer at long-off diving forwards from Dom Blampied’s bowling, would go on to see his side home just two wickets down, striking a mighty six down the ground off Theo Pullman to bring up his century from just 59 balls to win the game.
Game two, shortened to just 15 overs a side due to time, saw Jersey in the field first, and they would start superbly again. This time it was third Tetor brother Jack to go in the first over, chipping a tame cut shot to Gouge at point off Harrison Carlyon to go first ball.
He would be the first of three wickets for Carlyon and his wily off-spin in an excellent spell of 3 for 17 from his 3 overs. The St Ouen Springfield skipper would also pick up fellow opener Tim Tector and number 3 Harry Cranshaw in the same over to keep the MCC in check.
Skipper Tom Nash struck a couple of lusty blows as he top-scored with 32, but Jersey bowled well, including 16 year-old debutant Luke Bosio who held his nerve expertly, keeping the MCC down to 124 for 5 from their 15 overs.
In reply, it was all about Charlie Brennan. After scoring an unbeaten 112 for Team Europe at Lords last year, the hard-hitting left-hander is no stranger to the Lords wicket. And he showed just as much, striking the ball beautifully on his way to a match-winning unbeaten 64 from 40 balls, including nearly putting one out of the stadium to bring up his fifty.
Despite a flurry of late wickets, it was than man again Charles Perchard to, fittingly, crunch the winning runs through the covers off the penultimate ball of the day to seal a famous win.
Jersey squad: Charles Perchard (c), Charlie Brennan, Dan Birrell, Dom Blampied, George Richardson, Harrison Carlyon, Jack Kemp, Jonty Jenner, Julius Sumerauer, Luke Bosio, Patrick Gouge, Theo Pullman, Will Perchard, Zak Tribe
MCC Squad: Tom Rash (c), Harry Tector, Tim Tector, Travis Norris, Harry Crawshaw, Jack Tector, Callum Russell (wk), Ollie Nightingale, Fionn Hand, George Gowler, Andrew Brewster
