Jersey win World Cricket League Division 5

DUBAI: Anthony Hawkins-Kay’s unbeaten half-century and Ben Kynman’s four-wicket haul helped Jersey secure a 44-run win against Oman in their ICC World Cricket League Division 5 final at St Saviour on Sunday.

Put in to bat, Jersey were reduced to 51 for 4 before Kay’s 60 not out led the recovery to post 194 for 7 in 50 overs. Opener Zeeshan Maqsood’s 43 off just 22 balls gave Oman’s chase a whirlwind start, but Jersey chipped away at the wickets to bundle the visitors out for 150 in 45.3 overs.

Peter Gough and Nat Watkins, the Jersey openers, made a watchful start, reaching 37 without a loss in 10 overs. Soon after Gough was bowled by Rajesh Ranpura, the right-arm pacer, Ben Stevens and Watkins both followed their skipper as Oman lost three wickets for just three runs in the space of 14 balls.

A 46-run fifth-wicket stand between Hawkins-Kay and Cornelis Bodenstein (15) led Jersey’s initial fightback. But it was the 71-run sixth-wicket partnership between Hawkins-Kay and Corey Bisson (35) that helped Jersey post a defendable total.

Despite a brisk start, Oman suffered due to lack of significant partnerships. Apart from Maqsood, only two other batsmen — Noorul Riaz (29) and Swapnil Khadye (24) — could reach double figures as they associated for a 42-run seventh-wicket rearguard.

Oman and Jersey will join hosts United States, Bermuda, Denmark and Italy in the ICC WCL Division Four tournament which will be held in Los Angeles later this year.

Meanwhile, in the third place play-off, all-round Guernsey prevailed over Vanuatu by 19 runs at St Martin.

In the fifth place play-off at St Clement, Khalil Rehmtullah’s five-wicket haul and Arshan Jasani’s half-century stood out in Tanzania’s nervy one-wicket win — their maiden win of the competition — over Nigeria.