Inter Insular #11 1962

The match was played at Victoria College, Jersey
on Thursday 23rd August 1962
Umpires K G Clayton (Guernsey) and A C Geary (Jersey)
Scorers A S H Dickinson
Guernsey won toss and elected to bat
Guernsey won by 63 runs

Guernsey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Jersey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
P V SarrebGrantham31--50Le Gresley123420003.5
S R Clealnotout103-19090Hunt15144100902.9
M I LloydcMorganbStone22--30Grantham5020100304.0
R C N Rousselrunout23--40Morgan8.31230002.8
W E R BarrettbHunt12--11Stone5121100304.2
R A StrappinibPoree5--10Briant16251100963.2
R D SelfcOsmentbBriant56--82Poree8154100486.8
*W F Drucenotout3--00
P L Le Cocqdnb
J Tranterdnb
†+W Robilliarddnb
Extras (b8, lb1, w, nb)9
Total (for 6 wickets in 69.3 overs)264
Fall of wickets
1-36(Sarre),2-82(Lloyd),3-128(Roussel),4-147(Barrett),5-173(Strappini),6-249(Self)

Jersey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Guernsey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
P O'BriencDrucebBarrett45-7940Le Cocq14259300284.2
R OsmentbSelf21--20Self15173201454.9
D C HuntcBarrettbLe Cocv5--10Sarre73150002.1
M StonecRousselbSelf70--80Barrett14.133630028.22.6
R GelsthorpecLloydbLe Cocq0--00Tranter6116200182.7
B R Le MarquandbLe Cocq1--00
*C J PoreebBarrett5--00
D GranthamcClealbBarrett27--50
J T MorganstRobilliardbTranter12--20
E P Le GresleycStrappinibTranter5--10
M Briantnotout8--20
Extras (b1, lb, w, nb1)2
Total (in 56.1 overs)201
Fall of wickets
1-27(Osment),2-38(Hunt),3-111(O'Brien),4-115(Gelsthorpe),5-119(Le Marquand),6-144(Stone),7-156(Poree),8-182(Morgan),9-192(Le Gresley),10-201(Grantham)

PREVIEW

Press Saturday 28th July
‘College could provide six for island side’ by John Le Poidevin
The island cricket selectors, Major FG Manchester, president of the GICC, Mr RW Clark, president of the Guernsey Cricket League, and the captains of the respective organisations, Mr R Kendall-Tobias and Mr WF Druce meet next week to name the Guernsey side to play Jersey in the annual inter-island match to be played this year in Jersey on August 23. As usual it will be a difficult task. Perhaps more so this year because of the amount of talent about cause by the fact that the Elizabeth College side has developed so well. The College normally provides one or two members of the Guernsey side, but this year no fewer than six must be seriously considered.
My Guernsey side would come from the following 15 players: BA Anthony, WER Barrett, DJ Bowen, SR Cleal, AM Hunter, PL Le Cocq, MI Lloyd, JA Martel, MK Redford, MR Mitchell, W Le R Robilliard, RCN Roussel, PV Sarre, RD Self, RA Strappini.
Automatic selections in my opinion are the College opening bowlers Redford and Bowen, the College captain and opening batsman Sarre, Roussel (batsman) and all-rounders Barrett and Self. To these I add veteran Martel as an ultra-reliable batsman who would be an ideal captain.
This leaves four places and we need a wicket-keeper and an opening batsman. Three wicket-keepers are in the running, Robilliard, Anthony and the College ‘keeper Mitchell. Robilliard is undoubtedly the classiest of the three – Anthony is perhaps the most reliable – and Mitchell rates highly as wicket-keeper and punishing batsman. Up to this week my choice would have been Mitchell because he is accustomed to the pace of Redford and Bowen. But his ability against spin is in doubt …
Robilliard has not been in top form this season but showed signs of recovering his touch on Thursday. In the 15 I have named there are only two regular opening batsmen, Sarre and Cleal. Cleal is unorthodox, but there is no getting away from the fact that he is effective. Robilliard can also make a good job as an opening batsman and because of this he gets my vote. this leaves room for another batsman of the calibre of Hunter, Lloyd, Strappini or Le Cocq. A star of last year’s victory, Hunter has the knack of rising to the occasion. So he gets a place. Now we have two places left and Lloyd, Strappini and Le Cocq to fill them. On the strength of his 91 on Thursday I nominate Lloyd and I go for the free-scoring Strappini for the last place.
My team in batting order would be thus: Sarre, Robilliard, Self, Roussel, Barrett, Lloyd, Hunter, Martel, Strappini, Bowen, Redford. A formidable side …..
It is not, however, strong in spin bowling. CW Eley on top form would strengthen the side but he is not at his best this season. RHF Curr took six wickets with his off-spinners on Thursday, but he is not island material in my book ….
I do not go with the school of thought which submits that there must be at least one off-spinner, one leg-spinner and one of everything else in a side regardless of the ability of these players.

The side selected to represent Guernsey in the annual inter-island match against Jersey contains no real surprises. Led by WF Druce it is:
WF Druce, W Le R Robilliard, RD Self, PL Le Cocq, WER Barrett, PV Sarre, CW Eley, SR Cleal, MI Lloyd, RCN Roussel. AM Hunter.
It is certainly a powerful side – the selectors feel that it is perhaps the strongest side Guernsey has fielded in this series – but I can’t help thinking it would have been stronger still with the pace of College opening bowler DJ Bowen.
MK Redford, the other College opening bowler who I also suggested should be picked, was not available because of injury. But why no Bowen? Who is to share the new ball with Roger Self/ Sarre or Le Cocq? It must be one of them. It could be that both will open the attack. Yet both have played second fiddle to the much faster Bowen during the great College run of successes.
The Victoria College wicket is a fast one. Bowen and Redford are perhaps the fastest bowlers in the Channel Islands – and Bowen proved against Victoria College that he isn’t just fast.
The question of captain is, I’m told, automatic – the GICC captain one year, the GCL captain the next. On the whole I must agree that this side looks very potent. It looks full of runs and it is a good fielding side. I will be more than a little surprised if the Jerseymen are not beaten on their own ‘track’ for the first time since the series began. Travelling with the Guernsey side will be Major FG Manchester, Mr RW Clark, and Mr R Kendall-Tobias who with WF Druce selected the side. Mr KG Clayton is the Guernsey umpire. The match is on August 23 and the party will fly to and from Jersey on the same day.
[PV Sarre played 4 games for Worcestershire CCC 2nd XI in 1963/64 scoring 35 runs and taking 11 wickets, the best of which was 7 for 32 against Gloucestershire 2nd XI]

MATCH
Post Friday 24th August
S Cleal was 20 years old and played for Pilgrims
R Self hit Poree for 20 in 4 balls
The last 105 runs came in 45 mins
The Guernsey fielders ran to their positions between overs.

Press 1962 match
‘Local team’s cricket win: a big boost’ by John Le Poidevin
Guernsey cricket was given a tremendous boost by the island team which beat Jersey in every facet of the game at Victoria College Ground, Jersey, yesterday. The Sarnians won in exciting fashion by 63 runs taking the last Jersey wicket in the final over of the day. It was a fine day’s cricket. Guernsey won the toss and batted first on a hard wicket which looked likely to break up later in the match. They were given a solid start and went on to make 264 for six wickets declared. All credit to Jersey for accepting the challenge of making this huge total in 160 minutes. They went for the runs and had reached 201 when they went under.
The Guernsey batsmen were expected to make a big total. They got the runs well and later the side showed grand ability in the field – the fieldsmen backing up the bowlers well. The ground fielding was especially keen and it earned much applause from the appreciative crowd. When David Grantham, who had batted well for Jersey, faced what was to be the last over of the day a draw seemed a certainty for he had given no indication that he was in any difficulty. But Warren Barrett made the ball ‘fizz’ off a spot and it reared into the air for a jubilant Stan Cleal to take the winning catch at leg slip.
It was perhaps appropriate that Cleal should take this catch for he had done so much to make victory possible. He chose the perfect time to make his maiden century which, if not a classical innings, showed how much his game has matured. He wasn’t in good form – strange to say – but fought doggedly, refusing to be upset when beaten by the ball. Skipper Bill Druce delayed his declaration to enable Cleal to get his century. This could have cost the match but in the end it proved a most timely declaration and all were happy – in the Guernsey party that is!
The highlight of the day was undoubtedly the innings of Roger Self. Coming in when there was 173, he set about the bowling, enjoying a little luck and cracked a half century in 25 minutes. He received two ‘lives’ in one over against Ces Poree and celebrated the next over with six, four, six, four off successive deliveries. Self hit the ball with great power and one cover drive in particular was stupendous. Twice, later in his innings, a fieldsman was seen to hesitate before making an attempt to stop his shots. And he was fielding on the boundary.
Philip Sarre was the first of the Guernsey batting stars. Outshining and outscoring Cleal, he raced to 31 of an opening partnership of 36. Ian Lloyd replaced him and helped Cleal to a solid 46 run partnership putting the side on a sound foundation. When he was out to an excellent catch at short extra cover by Morgan, Robin Roussel took over and was getting right into his stride when he was run out after a bad mix-up.
Barrett almost popped up a dolly of a catch from the first ball he received. But after this he showed real class and hit one glorious six with a straight drive. Strappini joined Cleal, who by this time was batting very well, and at lunch the score stood at 159 for four with Cleal on 65. The College player was bowled soon after the break and Cleal received two ‘lives’ as he forced the pace. Throughout the Guernsey innings the Jersey fielding had been suspect. But it was in the period after lunch that it reached its lowest level.
Undaunted by the big score the Jersey batsmen immediately attacked. Self’s first two overs cost him 18 runs – most of them coming from the bat of Osment. This was rubbing it in for it was Osment who ended Self’s innings with a wonderful catch on the mid-wicket boundary. Self had his revenge when he bowled the Jerseyman however. Stone and O’Brien batted really well together. It was Barrett who tempted the stolid O’Brien to sky a shot into the covers and later Stone was also out in this way. His was a valuable wicket, for while he was at the crease Jersey stood an outside chance of victory. A splendid driver of the ball, Stone made a fluent 70. The important break-through came with 70 minutes left. And the enthusiastic Guernsey players kept on top and fully warranted their eventual success. It was the first Guernsey victory in Jersey since the series started.

Star
‘Last over slip catch earns Guernsey cricket victory’
All the honours went to the Guernsey cricket side yesterday when they beat Jersey by 63 runs in Jersey. It was a close thing. Jersey looked like holding out, Grantham batting confidently when the last over started. Barrett found a ‘spot’, the ball rose sharply, caught the batsman unawares and flew to leg slip Cleal.
It was a fine match from Guernsey’s point of view with Cleal in determined mood and the other batsmen playing strokes as the score rose steadily. Sarre hit an attractive 31 and Lloyd, Roussel and Barrett all looked in good form as the score rose to 159 for four by the luncheon interval. Cleal had made 65 of these. He was beaten on countless occasions but remained firm and did not panic. After the interval he had a certain amount of luck as he was dropped twice, but everyone was happy that skipper Druce delayed his declaration to enable the youngster to score his maiden century.
Highlight of the Guernsey innings came from Self who hit a superb 56. His half century took only 25 minutes and included two cracking sixes and several other fierce boundary shots.
Jersey were left with 160 minutes and they went for the runs. After an hour’s play they had put on 74 and O’Brien and Stone were going well. Barrett tempted the opening batsman to hit out and Druce took a good catch in the covers. Later, Stone also went to a similar stroke off Self’s bowling. With the score at 119 for 5 Guernsey looked in a strong position but Jersey batted doggedly with Grantham playing very well. Then came that exciting finish.
Besides batting well the Guernsey side also fielded magnificently and the bowlers, particularly the spinners, performed admirably.

REVIEW

Star
‘Cricket tide has turned towards Guernsey’ by John Le Poidevin
There’s no doubting – after Thursday’s inter-island match – that the tide has turned Guernsey’s way as far as cricket is concerned. With the bat, ball and in the field the Guernsey cricketers looked far more polished than their opponents. Until two years ago we were very much the ‘poor relations’ at the sport.
Without intending to decry Guernsey’s grand victory many knowledgeable sporting folk in Jersey claimed that the team they fielded was not the island’s best. Of course the selectors at any sport are rarely able to pick a team which will be popular in all quarters. But when one of the Jersey selectors admits that he didn’t know whether they had to pick the best side or a side with representatives from the various cricketing bodies it makes one think.
Jersey hasn’t the compact system of organisation in cricket we have here where the GCL and the GICC work in close liaison. Many of the better players in the sister island rarely, if ever, play on the College Field.
The Jersey did not carry a great deal of penetration. They had five or six pace bowlers – all much the same – and two spin bowlers. There was not the variety one usually gets from an island side. Mind you, the Guernsey attack could have carried more variety too. But even so the pace of Roger Self, Pierre Le Cocq and Philip Sarre, the off-spin of Barrett and the leg-spin of Jim Tranter moulded into a good attack. Being used to pace on their matting wickets the Jersey batsmen were more troubles by the spin bowlers. Tranter did not make an appearance on the bowling scene until half an hour from the end. But in that time he ‘persuaded’ two batsmen to hit out. One was stumped, the other caught deep. This is of course the art of spin bowling.
Barrett has more variety and is able to beat the bat more often. He claimed three wickets and beat the defence of Jersey skipper Ces Poree with a beautiful off-break. The Guernsey batting was very good, Sarre, Roussel, Barrett and Self all played fine aggressive innings. Cleal and Lloyd were more subdued but their contributions were none the less equally valuable.
Cleal’s century was a fine effort in concentration. He struggled, out of touch, for long periods. But the important thing was that he remained firm and waited for the loose delivery. He took an hour to get his first 15 runs – was on 65 after two and a half hours and in all took 190 minutes for his innings. Earlier this week Cleal was told that he had been nominated the ‘Young Cricketer of the Year’. A League cap, which until this year became an automatic award for a Guernsey appearance will surely follow.
Bill Druce handled his bowlers admirably and for only a brief time were Jersey batsmen in control. This was when O’Brien and Stone were together. They rushed the score along in great style, the powerful hitting of Stone proving to be the highlight of the Jersey side’s overall display. He was especially good at cover-driving and raced past his 50 with three glorious shots off Le Cocq.
Congratulations to the Guernsey side on a wonderful display. And credit to Jersey for their sporting effort in going for the runs. The odds on them getting 265 in 160 minutes were never high.