A MUCH-changed Bermuda side have explained that the main purpose of this Jersey round robin series was to give their younger players some much-needed international cricket experience.
The side were eliminated from contention prior to the start of the Caesarean event and have shown little threat to their opposition thus far.
Conversely, Jersey have put themselves in a strong position to challenge for the top, backing up their clean sweep in Uganda with a game one victory over the previous hosts.
The impact of that win means that Wednesday’s affair with Hong Kong will probably decide the overall winners.
With that being said, coach Neil MacRae was fully focused on the task at hand and refused to think about that clash until Bermuda were taken care of.
The hosts were put into bat first and set the tone early with openers Harrison Carlyon and Nick Greenwood.
The former raced to 72 off 53 balls, while the latter also scored over a run a ball, eventually being dismissed for 64.
The duo made way in quick succession, leaving the batting duties in the capable hands of Josh Lawrenson and Asa Tribe.
Jersey were in no mood to slow down and the teenage tandem continued to heap runs on a poor Bermuda bowling effort.
Lawrenson displayed all of his shot-making arsenal en route to 75 off 73 deliveries, while Tribe was sensational in claiming a century from 85 balls.
If the visitors thought the onslaught was over, Jonty Jenner reminded all of Grainville what he can do.
The former Sussex player opened his shoulders and entertained the locals with a barrage of boundaries before he was bowled on 49 off 23 balls – undone attempting a reverse sweep.
His innings may prove important ahead of Wednesday, spending valuable time out in the middle to get his eye in.
Jersey concluded on 381/5, as the top four batters all reached at least fifty while Jenner fell agonisingly one run short.
The visitors set out their intentions from the word go, understanding that Jersey’s target could not be chased.
Jersey, meanwhile, maintained a business-like attitude with the ball and in the field.
Anthony Hawkins-Kay claimed the first wickets of the afternoon, by way of catches.
Dom Blampied was rewarded for his concentration, claiming a wonderful catch at point, before Julius Sumerauer made the simplest of catches at backward point – barely having to move to claim the wicket of Dennico Hollis.
The situation continued to worsen for the Bermudians as Zeri Tomlinson and Terryn Fray ended up down in the same crease – Ben Stevens gratefully removing the bails from the vacated end.
The former would be forced to walk, but Fray did not last too much longer.
In a bid to run a single, some quick work between Jenner and Jake Dunford at wicketkeeper ran out the opener for 26.
The visitors mustered only a combined 15 runs from the next four into bat, sliding to 55/5 off 17 overs – as the already unassailable required run rate rose to ten an over.
Bermuda managed to stem the bleeding during the next nine overs, but with a non-existent run-rate they found themselves at 76/5 from 26 overs.
The outcome looked inevitable, but the visitors’ intentions were to frustrate Jersey for as long as possible.
