NICK GREENWOOD scored a superb century for Jersey against UAE in the first of their two-match 50 over series yesterday, but an unbeaten 131 from visiting opener Aryansh Sharma stole the show.
UAE skipper Harpreet Singh Bhatia opted to bowl first at the National Cricket Centre at Grainville, but it was Jersey openers Harrison Carlyon and Patrick Gouge who controlled early proceedings.
Carlyon (right), named skipper for the day in Chuggy Perchard’s absence, looked in good touch early on, particularly pleasing on the eye through the covers. Still barely touching his mid-late twenties, Carlyon demonstrated all the poise of a man already a decade into an excellent international career.
He and new partner Patrick Gouge made another impressive stand of 72, nullifying the impressive UAE new ball attack of Junaid Siddiqui and Muhammad Mohsin.
Gouge started the slower of the pair, but just as composed. A couple years junior of Carlyon, Gouge has earned his spots in recent times. From taking the wicketkeeping gloves in the T20 side, to a superb season in Australia over the winter followed by a stunning double hundred for St Ouen Springfield in the domestic Premier League, Gouge is the definition of kicking the door down.
Both men may feel frustrated with their dismissals however after making good starts. Carlyon made 37 before he held out to long off seemingly out of nowhere, before Gouge edged behind shortly after to go for 30.
New men Greenwood and Zak Tribe gave themselves a chance to get in on a good Grainville surface and both looked in equally good touch. Greenwood is fresh off a mammoth score of 192 for Preston Nomads in the Sussex Premier Division, while Tribe’s previous weekend consisted of a truly remarkable unbeaten 222, including 6 sixes in an over.
Tribe too would fall in the 30s however, but Greenwood (below) looked the steady hand required. The Wellington Firebirds batter both anchored the innings while scoring freely, eventually being dismissed in the final over for a masterful 102 from 92 deliveries.
He was excellently supported first by Jonty Jenner, his teammate at Preston Nomads. After shouldering arms and being bowled first ball in game one against Nepal, this blistering innings of 50 from 40 balls was a relief for all Jersey fans to see.
Charlie Brennan then picked up the mantle, continuing his excellent form after his unbeaten 81 against Nepal. He battled through early struggled to finish unbeaten on 40 frm 30 balls as Jersey passed the 300 mark for the first time against a League 2 opposition.
They concluded their 50 overs 315 for 5.
In reply, UAE made a bright start through Tanish Suri, who tucked into anything short early on. He would fall early though for just 16, well caught at slip by Brennan from Julius Sumerauer’s pace.
Both Sumerauer and fellow quick George Richardson were getting good purchase and carry from the Grainville wicket, and Daniel Birrell – Grainville’s head groundsman – was economical as first change.
Fellow opener Aryansh Sharma was looking resolute from the other end and refused to offer any chances. Number 3 Muhammad Shahdad picked up the mantle of aggressor as the pair added 104 for the second wicket.
Shahdad would fall for 71 in the 21st over, inexcusably gifting his wicket to Dominic Blampied after chipping a meek shot to Greenwood at mid off.
But the incoming Rahul Chopra maintained the visitors momentum, particularly nullifying one of Jersey’s main threats, leg-spinner Ben Ward. Usually a key source of wickets, UAE made excellent work of knocking the South African off his length and taking him for 8.5 runs an over throughout his 8 over spell.
Chopra too would bring up his half century on a wicket that looked continuously good to bat on throughout the day. He would fall for an even 50 to creak the door open for Jersey – the score 247 for 3 with a further 68 required from 62 deliveries.
Jersey were made to work hard for their three wickets, but that was all they would get.
Number 5 Sohaib Khan struck a four and 2 big sixes to finish unbeaten on a breezy 29 while Aryansh Sharma (left) brought up a magnificent century, carrying his bat to finish unbeaten on 131 from 133 deliveries to see his side to a 7 wicket win with two overs remaining.
Jersey will take a lot of positives from an excellent batting performance and will look forward to a chance to go at their adversary’s again tomorrow.
To see the full scorecards from game one, click the link; https://www.cricketworld.com/cricket/jersey-vs-united-arab-emirates/match/scorecard/97940
