Inter Insular #56 2007

The match was played at KGV, Guernsey
on Saturday 11th August 2007
for the HSBC Bank Trophy
50 overs per side
Umpires Andy Bisson (Guernsey) and Doug Ferguson (Jersey)
Scorers I Hunter (Guernsey) and L Davis (Jersey)
Toss won by Jersey who elected to bat
Jersey won by 4 runs

Jersey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Guernsey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
P GoughcBanerjeebLe Hegarat0108000.0Queripel80280313.5
S CarlyonstBishopbFrith30601092050.0Le Hegarat8045126.048.05.6
*M HaguelbwbFrith4078964051.3Moherndl50190103.8
R DriverlbwbFrith183648.02050.0Banerjee904021027.04.4
C JoneslbwbRich2449442049.0Frith1021630020.01.6
M PatidarcBishopbBanerjee2327480085.2Rich1003811060.03.8
T Carlyonrunout1021223047.6
J BrewstercSmitbBanerjee21172300123.5
B Vowdennotout11900100.0
T Mintyrunout(Moherndl)11100100.0
+†J Cauntnotout2750028.6
Extras (b3, lb6, w9, nb7)25
Total (for 9 wkts in 50 overs)195
Fall of wickets
1-4(P Gough),2-84(S Carlyon),3-87(Hague),4-123(Driver),5-131(Jones),6-153(T Carlyon),7-189(Patidar),8-191(Brewster),9-192(Minty)

Guernsey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Jersey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
+†R BishoplbwbDriver2238451.0057.9Driver1023033020.03.0
M OliverbDriver3046565065.2Jones1014120030.04.1
A BanerjeelbwbHague1551642029.4T Carlyon100450104.5
J D J FrithcCauntbDriver067.0000.0Hague1012813060.02.8
*S E Le PrevostcCauntbJones3156744.0055.4Vowden40120003.0
G H Smitrunout(Minty)1526312057.7Minty40220005.5
A Bigginsnotout1833611054.5S Carlyon1.2023102.41.7
G J RichcDriverbJones012000.0
K MoherndlbS Carlyon33294311113.8
B QueripellbwbS Carlyon032000.0
P Le HegaratcCauntbS Carlyon479.00057.1
Extras (b4, lb7, w12, nb0)23
Total (in 49.2 overs)191
Fall of wickets
1-59(Bishop),2-65(Oliver),3-69(Frith),4-104(Banerjee),5-130(Le Prevost),6-130(Smit),7-130(Rich),8-183(Moherndl),9-183(Queripel),10-191(Le Hegarat)

 

PREVIEW

Jersey Post
Jersey will field two new caps in their cricket team to face Guernsey in the annual inter-insular encounter away on Saturday. Romerils’ pair Jamie Brewster and wicketkeeper James Caunt will make their first appearances at inter-insular level in a team bidding to end a run of five consecutive defeats. Brewster (30) who won four Muratti football caps says ‘I’ve had a good season’. Caunt (35) said ‘I was out of the game for 3 years because of a broken leg and playing the last 2 years I’ve got my appetite back again.’
[James Caunt played as a wicketkeeper for Nottinghamshire CCC 2nd XI four times in 1989 as a 17-year-old. He took 3 catches and batted once for 2*]

Mark Saralis
Despite recent International success and affiliate membership to the ICC for most people in local cricket, spectators and players alike, tomorrow’s inter-insular against Guernsey is the highlight of the season. The fact that it marks the 50th meeting adds to the sense of occasion. Jersey’s stranglehold on the series spanned the 90s but it has been Guernsey who have held the upper hand since and I’m sure there will be an enthusiastic crowd on hand to see if Jersey can prevent a sixth successive defeat. The results only tell half the story and even during Jersey’s decade of dominance the odd game was decided on one moment of brilliance or misfortune, the most memorable being Richard Veillard’s dropped catch off the last ball of Jersey’s innings allowing Jersey to scamper home for the three runs they needed to win.
The development of the international scene has presented selectors with a problem. Do they pick a side which contains players who fit ICC criteria or do they pick the best side they can using all players regardless of their ICC status.

Guernsey Press
‘Four new caps in XI to face the old foe’ by Aaron Scoones

The new caps were Kris Moherndl, Blane Queripel, Peter Le Hegarat and Ryan Bishop

[Ryan Bishop was born in Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa in 1987. He was also educated at the University of Wales in Cardiff. He played for 3 years for the Cardiff Marlybone Cricket Club 2008-2010 and then Finchley in 2008 and Shrewsbury from 2009 to 2012. In 2011 and 2012 he played for Mashonoland Eagles and Gauteng where his 1st class details are played 8, 218 runs at 16.8 and took 26 catches and 1 stumping. He also played 6 List A matches  with 148 runs at 29.6 and took 9 catches.]

MATCH
Jersey Post
‘Bowlers do job as Carlyon leads way’ by Andy Bradshaw
Jersey gain eighth win of the season as veteran Steve kills off Guernsey in Saturday’s cricket inter-insular

By Dave Piesing
A devastating spell of bowling by veteran Jersey all-rounder Steve Carlyon proved crucial as Jersey edged the 50th anniversary inter-insular at Guernsey’s KGV by just 4 runs and with 4 balls still remaining.
In a pulsating match in which the pendulum kept swinging, and in front of a crowd estimated to be close to 1,000, Jersey skipper Matt Hague had seen Guernsey bat themselves right back into the game and needing just 14 runs off the last three overs with three wickets in hand to reach their target of 196 in 50 overs. As a last resort, and with his front-line bowlers already bowled out, Hague tossed the ball to 41-year old Carlyon who had not yet been called upon to bowl. After a first-ball wide, Carlyon bowled Kris Moherndl with his first legitimate delivery and just three balls later trapped Blane Queripel leg before. Andy Biggins and last man Peter Le Hegarat got the target down to 6 needed off the last over and after Biggins took a single off the first ball, Le Hegarat flashed and edged behind where James Caunt took a fine diving catch to clinch a memorable victory which ended a run of five successive defeats in this fixture.
Under a cloudless blue sky and in perfect conditions Jersey won the toss and not surprisingly elected to bat first. One of Guernsey’s four young debutants, quick bowler Le Hegarat, made a big breakthrough by having opener Peter Gough caught by Banerjee at slip without scoring, and he and fellow paceman debutant Blane Queripel asked lots of questions of Jersey’s experienced second wicket pair of Hague and Steve Carlyon. However, the pair survived and steadily accumulated a fine partnership of over 70 with some exceptionally good running between the wickets before left-arm spinner Jeremy Frith made the big breakthrough by trapping Hague in front for 40, which proved to be the top score of the day.
Carlyon followed quickly afterwards, well stumped by Ryan Bishop also off Frith for 30, and the game changed dramatically as the Jersey middle order got stuck against the high quality spin pair of Frith and off-spinner Gary Rich. Ryan Driver and Chris Jones occupied the crease without ever breaking the shackles but when Driver also fell leg-before to Frith and Jones suffered the same fate to Rich at the other end attempting a sweep, the momentum had really swung Guernsey’s way. A target of 250-plus looked on for Jersey at the first drinks break after 17 overs, but at the second drinks break score of 180 looked more likely. Some aggressive hitting by Jamie Brewster provided a welcome boost before he was sensationally caught one-handed by GH Smit at deep midwicket off Banerjee, and Jersey then stuttered to what was generally considered to be a below-par score of 195 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Frith was the pick of the Guernsey bowlers with 3 for 16 from his ten overs, but all of the Guernsey bowlers did a decent job.
The Guernsey innings started well with Bishop and Matt Oliver putting on 60 for the first wicket before Bishop fell lbw to a full-pitched ball from Driver whose last five overs were extremely impressive. Driver then cleaned up Matt Oliver and grabbed the crucial wicket of Frith who was unlucky to glove one of only a couple of balls which misbehaved all day. Suddenly 60 for 0 had become 72 for 3 and Jersey were back in. Ami Banerjee and home skipper Stuart Le Prevost then looked to consolidate and put together a useful partnership before Banerjee fell lbw to Hague. South African GH Smit then took his time to patiently play himself in and he survived a regulation catch behind off which Caunt somehow managed to spill off Chris Jones. That may well have been costly but Caunt redeemed himself in Jones’s next over with a fine diving catch to grab the vital wicket of Le Prevost for 30. The big turning point came in Jones’ next over when Smit was controversially given run out, and then Gary Rich edged Jones’ very next ball to slip where Driver took a fine catch. A cluster of three wickets in two overs had left Guernsey precariously placed at 140 for 7 with only the three debutant young bowlers to accompany the experiences Andy Biggins.
One of those youngsters, 19-year old Kris Moherndl, then played arguably the best innings of the day. Showing no fear of the occasion, he got off the market with a sublime straight drive for four off Jones and proceeded to take the game to Jersey with fine shot placement and aggressive running between the wickets. The shot of the day was a huge 6 over long-on against Tony Carlyon but just when he had taken his side to the brink of victory his shot selection deserted him for the first time against the older Carlyon and the rest is history.
Both sides knew that whoever was to win would have beaten a very fine side as there is nothing at all to choose between the two islands at the moment. Guernsey took many positives from the game, mainly from the fact that they were only fielding three players over the age of 30 whereas Jersey had only three players under 30, and Guernsey’s young side will only learn from the experience to take into the 2008 European 2nd Division Championships. Jersey have worked very hard over the past year, heavily incentivised by their accession to ICC Associate Membership and qualification for World Cricket League Division 5 in May 2008, and if this side can stay fit then they have every chance of doing very well in that tournament.

‘Sarnian hearts broken by Carlyon once more’ by Aaron Scoones
People said it was going to be a close game and it could not have been much closer as Guernsey agonisingly lost the 50th inter-insular by four runs on Saturday. Having restricted Jersey to a95 on a belter of a KGV wicket the home side found themselves needing six runs to win from the last over but with just one wicket left. And when Pete Le Hegarat edged Steve Carlyon’s second ball to keeper James Caunt there were scenes of absolute joy from the reds as they regained the cup for the first time in five years.
The mood in the Guernsey camp was one of desolation as they had got themselves into a wining position a couple of times only to have their dreams shattered. It was a real roller coaster of a match. ‘Disappointed, but it was a cracking game,’ said Guernsey manager Dave Hearse. ‘I was especially pleased with the youngsters and a special mention for Blane Queripel’s bowling and Kris Moherndl’s batting. When you look at the game we were pleased to keep them to 195. What was disappointing was that we got a good start with a 50 partnership but when any of our batsmen got in, not one of them went on to make a big score. But Jersey stuck to the task when we twice got into winning positions. ‘When you look at the positives, we’ve blooded the youngsters and they acquitted themselves well. Where can you look a that and see what went wrong and try and find those four runs. ‘We’ve had a great run and it had to end somewhere and we’ve had our share of winning close games. I think the games will be tight for a few years. ‘We’ll be back at them next year and look to get that cup back’
In chasing Jersey’s total, the greens got off to a flyer as Matt Oliver and Ryan Bishop put on 57 for the first wicket but they found themselves in real trouble on 130 for seven. Some quality batting from 19-years-old Moherndl with 30 and Andy Biggins then took the home side up to 183 and within touching distance of victory. That was before Carlyon came on in the 48th over to dismiss Moherndl and then number 10 Queripel two balls later before seeing off Le Hegarat for the win. The 41-year-old former Muratti goalkeeper, whose heroics between the football posts denied Guernsey on a number of occasions, is well used to breaking Sarnian hearts, as he was named the man of the match in his 22nd inter-insular appearance. ‘Steve should have been shot at birth,’ joked Hearse. ‘He’s a fantastic sportsman and he’s been the scourge of Guernsey cricket for many a year and he comes back and does it in the bowling department which he’s not really been known for.’ Very popular in both islands, Carlyon was thrown in at the deep end by his captain, Matt Hague, when he was asked to deliver the last over with his part-time medium pace. ‘I didn’t think I was going to bowl at that stage,’ he said. ‘I just tried to bowl in the right areas. I felt like a 21-year-old, jumping around afterwards. ‘That was as good as any win when you look at it. You’ve got to feel sorry for them [Guernsey], they started so well and we needed something to happen. Then we had them seven down for 137 and we felt we were there. But then I didn’t think we were going to get it at one stage. It’s been a fantastic day.’

‘Jersey edge KGV cracker’ by Aaron Scoones
A cracking game of cricket. With a party atmosphere on Saturday complete with hot tubs, barbecues, Hawaiian shirts and fancy-dress pirates, the cricket lived up to the pre-match hype that it was going to be a corker. It ended up coming down to just four runs but there always had to be a loser. And the team and supporters who were disappointed at the end sadly belonged to Guernsey.
Chasing Jersey’s 195 in 50 overs, the green caps fell painfully short in the last over as they looked to hold on to the title for the sixth year running. ‘It was a roller coaster,’ said Stuart Le Prevost afterwards. ‘#Both sides got themselves into a position to win the game two or three times each. They got pegged a good start but we pegged them back and were quite happy with 195, especially as they had been 80 for one after 20. And then we got off to a really good start and though they pegged us back we then got into a winning position with Kris Moherndl batted very well. But they closed it out at the last hurdle much to our annoyance. There were some positives to come out of the game. Every one of our players performed but it wasn’t to be on the day.’
After winning the toss there were no surprises that Jersey captain Matt Hague elected to bat on a belter of a wicket. Despite losing opener Pete Gough for a duck in the second over when the left-hander was smartly caught by Ami Banerjee diving forward at slip off the bowling of Pete Le Hegarat, Jersey got themselves into a solid position as Hague and Steve Carlyon got them up to 77 for one at the 20th over. Young Guernsey quick bowlers Le Hegarat, Blane Queripel and Moherndl, all on their debut, had shown no signs of nerves as they all bowled well in these early stages. Opener Carlyon was the first to go, smartly stumped by Guernsey’s South African keeper Ryan Bishop off Frith for 30 and then Hague went also to Frith, lbw for 40.
The Frith and Rich partnership tied Jersey down as only 57 runs came from their 20 overs. Frith also accounted for the reds’ dangerman, counties star Ryan Driver, trapped lbw for 18, while Rich got rid of Chris Jones for 24, also lbw. Both batsmen were quite a way forward in each case and were clearly not happy with their decisions from Jersey’s Doug Ferguson and Sarnian Andy Bisson. There were a number of other calls during the day that raised eyebrows and will no doubt fire up the debate again about neutral umpires. With nine overs left and just 134 on the board for the loss of five wicket, Frith and Rich came to an end and Jersey needed to put their foot down if they were going to post a testing total. And this came in the form of Jamie Brewster after Meeku Patidar and Tony Carlyon had been accounted for. The aggressive Romerils right-hander weighed in with a quickfire 21, including three fours, before he was exceptionally caught by GH Smit on the leg-side boundary. The South African had to dive to catch the ball over his shoulder.
Jersey failed to add many more after that dismissal to finish on 195 and a target that Guernsey were certainly confident of reaching. And they looked to be on course as openers Bishop and Matt Oliver set about the visitors’ attack. They had out on 59 when, in the 13th over, 20-year-old debutant Bishop was given lbw off Driver for 22. He was followed by Oliver two overs later as the pendulum swung back in the reds’ favour as Frith went for a duck, caught by keeper James Caunt when he went to try and pull Driver and the ball ballooned up off his bat instead.
But the greens looked to be getting back into it through Banerjee and Le Prevost. Smit replaced Banerjee with the score on 104 with 20 overs left and he carried on with his captain. But it was on 130 that the wheels fell off for Guernsey as they lost three wickets for no runs in one over. Le Prevost was the first to go when he was stunningly caught one-handed by Caunt off Jones. Smit was next, unlucky to be given out in a very close run-out when Andy Biggins touched the ball into the onside and Tom Minty swooped down with a direct hit. The South African looked in. And to complete the rout, Rich went first ball caught in the slips by Driver.
With their backs firmly up against the wall at 130 fro seven the Sarnians needed something special and it came in the form of Moherndl. The 19-year-old debutant showed maturity beyond his years as with Biggins he put the greens back in the driving seat. The right-hander played some lovely shots down the ground including one massive six off Tony Carlyon into the trees over long-on. With 18 balls left and 14 runs needed, Hague seemingly ran out of options and had to turn to the part-time medium pace of Steve Carlyon. The 41-year-old was immediately effective as he bowled Moherndl first ball for 33 and then dismissed Queripel three balls later.
Tense was not the word as Guernsey with just one wicket left on 183 required 13 runs to win. The penultimate over bowled by Minty went for six to leave the home side requiring six to win from the last over. Carlyon’s first ball went for a leg bye off Biggins’ pad to put Le Hegarat on strike. The 18-year-old swished at a wide one outside off stump and got a nick through to Caunt. The Jersey players were ecstatic while Guernsey were beside themselves after having come so close. Le Hegarat, who had been up to the PEH earlier in the day to have his chin stitched up after he was hit by the ball in the field, was particularly downcast.
Steve Carlyon was given the man-of-the-math award for his heroics and the champagne sprayed out when Hague lifted the trophy. ‘It was just relief,’ said Hague about his feelings in finally winning after five years. ‘Guernsey when they had that partnership fro 130 to 180 felt they had it, but at 130 fro seven we thought we were going to win. We went for the kill and we didn’t think about the end but we had a fantastic two overs from Steve. ‘It was unbelievable. He’s not one of the main bowlers but we knew that he would be there or thereabouts. It was one of the best wins I’ve ever been involved with. It couldn’t’ have been closer.’

REVIEW

Guernsey Press
‘Board bosses warm to idea of neutral officials’ by Aaron Scoones

Calls are mounting for the biggest game of the cricket season – the HSBC inter-insular – to have neutral umpires. Last Saturday’s cracker at KGV contained a number of contentious decisions. In a close and very tense match which saw Guernsey lose by just four runs, the spotlight was thrust on umpires Doug Ferguson from Jersey and Guernsey’s Andy Bisson. Both men made a number of questionable judgements that had massive bearing on the proceedings. Questions are also unfairly raised about the impartiality of any local official use in the match.
Now the Guernsey and Jersey cricket boards are keen to look into bringing umpires from outside the island for the event in the future. ‘I think we have to look at it, we have to consider our options,’ said Dave Piesing, chairman of the GCB. ‘Historically, it was the one big game, but now we can give them [the umpires] opportunities further afield. In my mind, it’s become a huge game, ‘Players might freeze on the big occasion and so can the umpires. I’m in favour, not as a criticism of our umpires, but because the game has become so huge. ‘But I think essentially we can offer opportunities elsewhere for our better umpires and I believe there will be no shortage of umpires in the European region who would come over and umpire such a prestigious game.’
Ward Jenner, a former captain of both islands and now vice-chairman of the JCB, has a similar view. He believes that even if the “best umpires in the world” came from Guernsey and Jersey and were used in the game, questions would still be raised about their decisions. He also noted that the Muratti, the Siam and practically all the other inter-insular clashes use neutral officials. On Saturday he spoke to former Guernsey Hockey Association president, Ray Bushell, about why hockey had switched to umpires from outside the Channel Islands for their big match. ‘It was discussed a lot on the day,’ he said. ‘I had a very interesting conversation with Ray talking about his experiences as a hockey umpire in inter-insulars. He once had to give a penalty flick in the dying moments of an inter-insular and something like that changes a match. ‘One of the problems they [umpires] have often said is that the inter-insular is a big game, the players get to play in it and they feel they should umpire it. But with the development with the ICC there are now great opportunities for umpires who have done well.
‘Overall, I think it would be easier. I’m very conscious of not upsetting the umpires in both islands because they do very well. It would probably be sensible to follow world cricket where they don’t use home umpires. It makes it very difficult in a close game where you’re bound to have close decisions. It just makes very awkward positions that people could get in..’ Guernsey captain Stuart Le Prevost also wants to see neutrals used. ‘I think if you look at all the other sports, they have gone down that route,’ he said. ‘I do hear their argument that if they umpire all season they should get the big game as well and that’s fair enough. But I’ve played in 11 inter-insulars and you can almost guarantee in every one there’s been a questionable decision. With neutral umpires it takes the whole Guernsey/Jersey bias out of it. They do a cracking job all year but there’s a lot of pressure in the inter-insular and half the time the pressure can go against you as sometimes they might not give a decision because they don’t want to be seen to be biased. It just cuts any unnecessary bias feeling. I think GACUS [Guernsey Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers] do a great job and without them we’re in trouble. We’re indebted to them.’ Ralph Anthony, the secretary of GACUS, hopes that the big game is not taken away from them. ‘Obviously I’m going to have a jaundiced view as an umpire and this is my point of view and not GACUS’s but I believe it should be left alone,’ he said. ‘We have two types of umpires with the Martin Grays, who are going on to do ICC and then we’ve got the ones who don’t want to go on to do that. And for those who don’t, if the inter-insular s taken away, they might not want to carry on. The match is our carrot. I do understand the reasons for neutral umpires. ‘Maybe there were three of four contentious decisions for both sides [on Saturday]. But the subject was quiet for a few years and then it raises its ugly head. ‘If there is a fear of bias are we going to get neutral umpires in for all the CI League games as well? I’ve seen this so many times and I understand why it’s been raised. It’s up to Dave Piesing and his cohorts.’