The young Island side, with an average age of just 17, were beaten twice by Belfast outfit Northern Knights on their only competitive trip of 2020 but showed signs that a successful future could be enjoyed.
Jersey – currently ranked 37th on the ICC world rankings – lost by 35 runs in their opening fixture, having restricted their hosts to 93/5, and finished 28 runs down in game two on Friday with a second-innings total of 95/7. Chloe Greechan took four wickets for 25 runs as Knights reached 123/9 off their 20 overs and she then top-scored with the bat, reaching 36.
Two of the four scheduled games were cancelled due to poor weather.
‘It’s the first time we’ve had the opportunity to get them off the Island since I took over and it was great to finally get some games played this season,’ said Meloy, who took charge in April.
‘The Knights have quite a few good players just below the Irish international standard who can’t commit to full-time cricket in Dublin and they had a couple of internationals too, including Cara Murray, who took 3-18 against us in four overs on Friday.
‘Our average age is 17 and our youngest player is 13 so the results weren’t unexpected, and the performances showed signs of a young side. Bowling and fielding are always the first things to improve and the girls did both very well. The Knights team was very complimentary of how well we bowled and how difficult we make it for them in the field. Ultimately batting was our downfall but that is always something that takes a while. No matter how many balls you hit in the nets it doesn’t replicate a game scenario but that experience will come.’
Meloy added: ‘Being realistic, this is going to take a few years before we are where we want to be. We’ve got to allow the youngsters in particular to work on their game, make mistakes and then improve on them. We’re in a strange scenario in that they’ve representing Jersey at the highest level of women’s cricket when they’re still learning the game but they will keep getting better.
‘I’m excited by what’s to come over the next few years.’
