JERSEY CRICKET CLUB claimed an inaugural 2-0 series victory over the Guernsey Mavericks on Sunday, continuing what has been a highly encouraging first season for the new representative initiative.
Travelling to KGV in Guernsey, the Jersey CC side, led once again by Robbie Forrest, dominated with both bat and ball to secure a 7-wicket win in game one before following up with a 4-wicket success in game two.
The series victory builds on a promising opening fixture against the MCC last month, which ended 1-1, and further underlines the success of a project designed to provide additional opportunities for local players.
“The Jersey Cricket Club idea has been formed over the last 12 to 18 months with feedback from a variety of people throughout the local leagues regarding trying to find further opportunities for players who want them,” said Jersey Cricket Head of Operations, Lee Meloy.
“The benefit of these fixtures is to give the depth of players more opportunity. Certainly from Jersey Cricket’s perspective, we want to give people more opportunity who turn out week in, week out for their club and put good performances in to get some recognition and earn the chance to play at a higher level.”
Jersey made an immediate impact in game one.
Left-arm spinner Kush Pathak (above, St Ouen Springfield) needed just three deliveries to make the breakthrough, with Mavericks captain Luke Le Tissier caught by Scott Van Breda (Farmers) for a golden duck.
Brother Nathan Le Tissier soon followed, as Jersey ripped through the top order, reducing the hosts to 20 for 5 shortly after the powerplay.
Pathak, Van Breda and Luke Bosio (SOS) all impressed early on, but paceman Theo Pullman (Old Victorians) stole the show.
The OVs seamer (right), currently plying his trade at university in Cardiff, produced an outstanding spell of 4 for 11 from his four overs to dismantle the Sarnian batting line-up.
Ed Robinson top-scored with 32, but the Mavericks were bundled out for just 75 in 16 overs.
Every Jersey bowler used claimed at least one wicket, with Pathak, Van Breda, Bosio, Pullman, Scott Simpson (OVs) and Tiaan Kruger (Walkovers) all contributing.
Jersey’s chase began shakily as Guernsey quick Charlie Forshaw removed both openers Jack Kemp (Farmers) and Georon Claasen (SOS) cheaply to leave the visitors 10 for 2.
However, Drew Sylvester (Walkovers) and Forrest (SOS) steadied matters, guiding their side home in 14.2 overs.
Sylvester (left) finished unbeaten on 37 from 45 balls, while Forrest added 24 not out from 34 deliveries.
Forshaw was the standout performer for the Mavericks with 2 for 13 from his four overs.
To see the full scorecard, click the link; https://cricclubs.com/GuernseyCricket/results/zVfwZbZ4Fbrva3_iid4opQ?asfd=Mavericks+vs+Jersey+CC
Game two followed a similar pattern.
Batting first again, Guernsey improved on their first total, reaching 118 for 6 from 20 overs thanks to contributions from Robinson (22), Kevin Van Der Geest (26) and Forshaw (20 not out).
Bosio again impressed with the new ball, returning 1 for 12 from three overs, but Pullman continued his remarkable form with 3 for 24.
His figures across the day read an exceptional 7 wickets for 35 runs from eight overs.
The Mavericks then threatened to turn the contest on its head.
Jack Kemp fell victim to Alfie Gallienne first ball of the innings, before Forshaw removed both Claasen and Jamie Smith (Farmers), Jersey 3 wickets down before a run was scored.
When Sylvester fell for 8 in the fifth over, Jersey were in serious trouble at 14 for 4.
Forrest once again stepped up to steady the innings, this time alongside Jacques Van Der Walt (Walkovers).
The pair added 85 runs, with Forrest scoring 32 from 31 balls before Forshaw struck again.
Van Der Walt (below) proved the match-winner, producing the only half-century of the series with 57 from 66 balls, including seven boundaries.
He departed with just nine runs required, allowing Kruger and Van Breda to complete the chase.
To see the full scorecard of game two, click the link; https://cricclubs.com/GuernseyCricket/results/dqzjZnpXw_5g8IBKkwfZpw?asfd=Mavericks+vs+Jersey+CC
Reflecting on the series, Meloy praised both the standard of cricket and the broader aims of the programme.
“We’re really delighted with how the representative stuff has gone so far this year with the two fixtures against a strong MCC side and now these two fixtures against the Guernsey Mavericks, which was comprised of the same players that have come from the Jersey Premier League and the Guernsey equivalent.
“The standard was good. We’re happy with that and it was great to get those fixtures over the line. A huge thanks to our sponsors Integritas Wealth Partners for that.
“The quality on show throughout the day was superb. We were hosted wonderfully by Guernsey Cricket. The facilities at KGV were fantastic as they always are, and it was a good day’s action between two decent sides.”
Looking ahead, Jersey Cricket hopes to expand the programme further.
“The hope moving forwards is to continue to grow the initiative,” Meloy added.
“We looked at this Mavericks match-up particularly and wondered if we can introduce both a T20 and a 50-over option each year moving forward, should budgets allow.
“This is just year one, with the hope of it growing in year two and beyond to get more fixtures, obviously against both Guernsey and MCC but also wider afield in the UK or within Europe.
“We want these players to bring those standards back into the domestic club game and continue to drive the levels of the leagues higher.
“I think this first season has been extremely successful and speaking to the players who have been involved across all four games so far, they’ve thoroughly enjoyed it, which is great, but have also learned a few things on the way and have exposed themselves to a good standard of cricket.”
Jersey CC Representative Squad: Robbie Forrest, Georon Claasen, Tiaan Kruger, Scott Van Breda, Theo Pullman, James Smith, Drew Sylvester, Jacques Van Der Walt, Luke Bosio, Scott Simpson, Kush Pathak, Jack Kemp
