PREVIEW

Jersey Post
‘Jersey favourites for Inter-Insular hat-trick but should be wary of Sarnian quartet’ by Mark Saralis
Jersey are marginally favourites to win. In Matt Oliver, Jeremy Frith, captain Stuart Le Prevost (who may miss the game as his wife is due to give birth) and in particular Lee Savident, Guernsey have several potent match winners who can turn a game and will expose any chinks in the Jersey amour.

Lauren Gouyette wrote
Jersey cricket coach Craig Hogan is confident he has the side to win tomorrow’s inter-insular in Guernsey before their three matches against Italy next week.

Guernsey Press
‘Hearse takes ICC route for Jersey’ by Aaron Scoones

Guernsey have picked an ICC squad for Saturday’s inter-insular at the KGV – while Jersey have gone with their strongest outfit possible. The rules for the annual clash do not stipulate that only cricketers who qualify to represent their island in ICC matches are allowed to play.
Jersey have named a 12-man squad that contains non-ICC qualified players such as Dean Morrison and Hannes Botha as well as former captain Matt Hague who had stepped away from playing international matches. However, Guernsey have gone for a 13-strong squad in which every player is ICC qualified. The Sarnians are off to Singapore at the end of the month for ICC World Cricket League Division Six.
‘The inter-insular is a very important game and it’s close to our hearts, but we’ve got a very important tournament coming up in Singapore and I want to give the guys going another test,’ said island manager David Hearse.
Guernsey’s middle order, which infamously capitulated in the defeat to Jersey in the final match of last year’s ICC European Division Two, could have been bolstered by Ian Atchison. The New Zealander has impressed in his debut season in the island. A compact left-handed batsman he also bowls some tidy off-spin and many people had tipped him to be included. ‘Ian could have batted in the middle order but it’s gone to someone who is going to Singapore’, said Hearse. ‘I’m sure Ian will play in Guernsey colours in the future if he decides to stay on the island’.
Another player to miss out is Tim Duke. The Rovers all-rounder pulled out of going to Singapore last week and Hearse said that he has not been picked for the same reason as Atchison. But Hearse has named Matt Oliver in his squad. The Cobo wicket-keeper batsman was an integral part in Guernsey qualifying for WCL Division Six but he has also made himself unavailable for Singapore due to work commitments. ‘He’s not going to WCL Division Six but he’s obviously contributed (in the ICC for Guernsey),’ said Hearse. ‘He’s had a good season and he’s the best glove-man. It’s just unfortunate he’s unavailable for WCL Division Six.’
The only Guernsey players who could make their inter-insular debuts are the Warr brothers. James and Jonny who are both going to Singapore.

‘From back garden to the island squad’ by Aaron Scoones
Guernsey could declare ‘Warr’ on Jersey tomorrow. Having been named in Guernsey manager Dave Hearse’ 13-man squad, brothers James and Jonny Warr could feature in the inter-insular.
‘It’s going to be nice to possibly step on to the field with him [Jenny],’ said James. ‘I’ve played alongside him in different age groups. It will be nice for mum [Sue] and dad [Dave] as well. ‘I’m sure they will be proud.’ At 23-years-old, James is the older brother. He graduated from Nottingham University this year with a degree in management studies and, in October, he is set to begin a career in accounting with Deloitte in Reading. A tall right-handed opening batsman,
James also bowls seam up. Turning out for Corinthians in the Evening League and for Wanderers at the weekends, he has notched up a couple of 50s and taken some vital wickets. He has represented Guernsey at nearly every age group and featured in the B inter-insular a few years ago. But he has yet to be selected for the senior inter-insular. ‘I’m delighted to be picked,’ said James. ‘It’s a privilege to be picked for the island as it’s such a big game. Having grown up in Guernsey, it’s nice to be involved.’ Jonny, 20, has spent the last three years living with his brother as he at- tended Nottingham College to study IT. He is off to Reading as well at the beginning of the new academic year to study computer science at the city’s university. The brothers are clearly very close and James’ selection into the senior set up has spurred Jonny on.
Jonny hopes they both play tomorrow. ‘That would be awesome if we do,’ he said. ‘That was part of the driving force of getting into the island squad because I wanted to play with him.’ Although an all-rounder like his brother, Jenny, who plays for Cobo, is a different type of cricketer in that he is a middle order batsman who is also a nagging medium pace swing bowler. It is his bowling, particularly his performance in the under-23 inter-insular, in which, despite top scoring for Guernsey in the defeat with 57, he really stood out with the ball taking one wicket for just 17 runs from his 10 overs. Jonny described himself as batsman who bowls but admitted that it is his bowling that has come to the fore this season. ‘I’ve had a few chances with the bat but I’ve not really made them count,’ he said. ‘But with my bowling, I’ve been on form.’ Both brothers have been selected to represent Guernsey at the ICC World Cricket League Division Six in Singapore at the end of the month. James was part of the original squad while Jonny came in as a replacement for Rovers all-rounder Tim Duke, who pulled out last week. ‘I’m obviously chuffed about that,’ said James of his selection. ‘That’s going to be a really good experience.’ James did admit that there is some sibling rivalry between the two brothers. ‘It’s only friendly if anything,’ he said. ‘We’re both all-rounders. ‘We’ve played in the back garden for years together,’

‘Jersey bring strongest side yet for hat-trick bid’ by Aaron Scoones
‘WE’RE putting out our best team ever.’ That is the message from the Jersey camp ahead of tomorrow’s inter-insular at the KGV as they look to retain the title for the third year running. ‘In the five inter-insulars I’ve played, this is the strongest team we’ve brought as far as I’m concerned,’ said Jersey captain Ryan Driver.
‘Every base is covered. With pace and spin and the batters are firing as well.’ Former county professional Driver has reason to be optimistic because his batsmen have been in astonishing form. Driver himself has knocked up some big runs, but two Australians have dwarfed the powerful left-hander. Former Jersey skipper Matt Hague walked away from the game after he fell out with old coach Peter Kirsten. But after coming out of retirement in June, he scored 175 against St Ouen on his debut for his new club, Optimus, in the NatWest Cl League. He followed that up a week later with a remarkable 200 not out against Optimists-Rovers. ‘What Matt has done has been phenomenal,’ said Driver. ‘A 175 and then 200, that’s going some, and 500 runs in five innings? I don’t think anyone is going to be doing better than that in the future.’ In a word of warning for Guernsey’s bowlers, the 34-year- old Hague feels revitalised. ‘I needed that break and it’s done my game a world of good,’ he said.
‘I’m enjoying it again and I’m looking forward to Saturday. ‘When you look at it, the batting order, it’s pretty strong with Dean [Morrison] in good form and I would say that most of the batsmen are in good form. ‘It’s the strongest team we’ve ever had.’ Fellow Aussie Morrison has also been hitting some serious runs.
The compact left-hander hit three tons on the bounce in the Cl League. Two were for St Ouen before he left in acrimonious circumstances to join Springfield where he carried on his incredible form with another century on his debut. His fourth innings in that run was 95. One name that Guernsey spectators might not recognise in the Jersey ranks is Hannes Botha. The South African all-rounder has been quietly turning in some match-winning performances for Farmers-Caesareans to see them third in the Cl table behind leaders Optimus and Cobo.
‘I think he’s third in the leading run scorers and second in the leading wicket takers,’ said Driver.
‘We said we were going to be picking this team on form and consistency and he’s certainly done that. He’s been getting nice scores and he thoroughly deserves his place.’ Old Victorians’ Pete Gough has also been in the runs and the left-hander is set to open to- morrow. Veteran Tony Carlyon also features for the visitors as does St Ouen’s promising young all- rounder Anthony Kaye. Spin will come in the form of orthodox left-arm spinner, teenager Ben Stevens. ‘It’s a one-off game and any- thing can happen and both teams have got match winners, but we’re quietly confident,’ Driver said. ‘We’re hoping that the team we’re bringing over is going to put up a good fight. It’s going to be a good game.’

MATCH

LEE SAVIDENT wrote his name into the inter-insular history books as the KGV witnessed another remarkable game of cricket between Guernsey and Jersey on Saturday. Savident became only the second Guernseyman in the 52-year history of the inter-insular – Stan Cleal was the first in 1962 – to carry his bat for an unbeaten century as the home side won by 21 runs.
In the climax to last year’s ICC European Division Two Championship, the Greens were coasting to victory at the ground before they had the mother of all batting collapses and lost five wickets for five runs to end up just one run short.
This year, the tables were turned on the heavily-fancied Jersey side who looked on course to win the trophy for the third year running when they found themselves 117 for 0 in the 33rd over chasing Guernsey’s target of 224 on a stiflingly slow and low wicket. But a fantastic bowling and fielding display by the home side eventually restricted them to 203 for eight.

‘What a game of cricket,’ said island manager Dave Hearse afterwards. ‘They were well ahead of the game because they had 117 and they hadn’t lost a wicket. They must have been huge favourites but it shows that it mustn’t have been easy to score easily on that wicket. Overall it was a fantastic team effort. We stuck to their guns throughout the game. Jersey went in as favourites but it just shows you that labels mean nothing.’
Unsurprisingly, the man of the match award went to Savident. The former Hampshire professional, who last played in the inter-insular in 1995, carried his bat for 102. It was the first century in the annual clash for 20 years.
‘I told my mum yesterday that I was going to get this,’ said Savident as he held his award after the match. It’s been more than 15 years of waiting. It was hard out there. They bowled well and we didn’t get a four ball until the 14th over.’
While the Guernsey players were spraying around the champagne afterwards, the mood was at the polar opposite in the Jersey camp.
‘It was just a cock up,’ said Jersey captain Ryan Driver. We didn’t go into the game complacent. It needed someone to go on [and get the runs] and no one did. ‘It was more disappointing as we had a good start. I wish Guernsey good luck in Singapore [for ICC World Cricket League Division Six] and we’ll be watching and supporting them.’

Ed. Lee Savident (102*) was the third player to score a hundred for Guernsey in Inter-Insular matches after Stan Cleal (103) in 1962 and Stuart Mackay (100*) in 1989

Guernsey Press
A fine all-round team performance from Guernsey ensured that they will depart for World Cricket League Division 6 in Singapore in 2 weeks time with a massive morale-boosting win against Jersey under their belts. The final margin of victory was 21 runs but for much of the second innings Jersey seemed to be in complete control. As ever in inter-insular cricket, a game can change dramatically with one dismissal and that was certainly the case on this occasion.
Jersey had brought back the previously-retired former captain Matt Hague and all-rounder Tony Carlyon for this game, and gave a debut to South African newcomer Hannes Botha. The very prolific Australian left-hander, Dean Morrison, who qualifies for ICC purposes prior to Jersey’s visit to Nepal for World Cricket League Division 5 next February, was also selected. Indeed, Jersey’s top four had already scored 11 centuries between them this season and were in prime form coming into the game.
Guernsey had an eye on Singapore and understandably picked a side with that tournament in mind, resisting the temptation to select any non-ICC eligible players. 10 of the selected side will be in Singapore and the only exception was regular wicketkeeper Matt Oliver who misses Singapore due to work commitments.
A sun-kissed KGV saw a healthy crowd which was estimated to be in the region of 700 by mid-afternoon. Recent rain meant that the wicket was somewhat slower and lower than would have been the case a month ago, but Guernsey skipper Stuart Le Prevost, who became a father for the first time just 24 hours earlier, had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss.
The Jersey opening bowlers, Ryan Driver and Anthony Kay, started very impressively and conceded just 9 runs in the opening 7 overs with some very tight bowling backed up by some excellent ground fielding. Their pressure was duly rewarded when Oliver edged Driver behind. Jeremy Frith joined opener Lee Savident and, somewhat unusually, Frith outscored his partner as they steadily built a key partnership. Frith was starting to cut loose when he surprisingly knocked a full toss straight back to young left-arm spinner Ben Stevens to be caught and bowled for 36 (63 balls). This brought skipper Le Prevost to the crease and he continued the momentum in another key partnership with Savident.
Savident used his previous first-class experience well and had clearly worked out the pace of the wicket. Playing a low-risk game, he then tried to force the pace when in the 60s and just survived a very tough low chance at mid-on. In the next over he was badly dropped at mid-off by the normally very safe hands of Driver off the bowling of Peter Gough, and one sensed that the drop could prove very expensive. Savident re-focused on batting through the innings and with Le Prevost starting to bat very fluently the platform was being laid for a late innings flurry. Le Prevost was bowled by Kay for a fine 41 (53 balls) but this brought the hard-hitting South African GH Smit to the crease. Smit was quickly into his stride and smashed a vital 29 off just 21 balls in the closing overs, including a huge straight six off Kay. He seemed unfortunate to fall to a catch off a high full toss from Kay but only after keeping Savident company while the latter completed a very hard-earned century, ending with an unbeaten 102 from 139 balls, a scoring rate which gave a strong indication that it was a grafting wicket. A final score of 224 for 4 in 50 overs was clearly a challenging one for Jersey if the Guernsey bowlers could bowl in the right areas.

The Jersey openers, fellow left-handers Peter Gough and Dean Morrison, set about their task superbly with brilliant running between the wickets while they found the gaps in the in-field. But the Guernsey seamers were giving very little away and crucial boundaries were very hard to come by. Savident bowled his 10 overs straight through for just 35 runs, while Blane Queripel bowled an exceptional line to the two left-handers, conceding just 15 runs in his 6 overs. Jamie Nussbaumer continued the good work when he replaced Queripel, and with 30 overs gone Jersey seemed to be completely in control with 10 wickets in hand although the required run rate had crucially been allowed to get close to 6 an over. No problem with the two openers still at the wicket, but a much tougher challenger for any incoming batsmen.
The big breakthrough came when Gough needlessly played a reverse sweep to off-spinner Gary Rich and was bowled for 44 (83 balls), and when Hague soon chipped one back at Jeremy Frith, Guernsey started to sense that the gate was open. Frith then trapped Driver leg-before, but Morrison had cut loose, tucking into Rich with some big blows over long-on including one big 6. But then Morrison surprisingly holed out at long-on to Frith at the other end, Kris Moherndl pouching the catch, and Guernsey were now starting to become favourites as the required run-rate started to climb to 7, 8 and then 9 an over. Frith ended with the very impressive figures of 3 for 34 from his 10 overs, with the three wickets being the huge wickets of Morrison, Hague and Driver.
Guernsey’s two death bowlers, Stuart Bisson and Jamie Nussbaumer, then bowled quite brilliantly in the last 10 overs as they fired in yorker after yorker, just conceding singles as the Jersey middle order desperately tried to find the boundaries even with the batting power play in progress for the last 5 overs. Despite a straight six from Carlyon off Bisson, Jersey’s position quickly became a virtually impossible won and they ended up 21 runs short with 8 wickets down. Bisson, who only came on in the 41st over, took 2 for 32 in his vital 5 overs, while Nussbaumer returned the excellent figures of 1 for 32 from 9 overs.
It was perhaps expected that Savident would indeed win the man of the match award for his century and tight bowling spell, but on other days Frith, Nussbaumer or Bisson would have been significant candidates.
Jersey will clearly believe that this was a game that they should have won comfortably halfway through their innings with 10 wickets in hand, and certainly both of their openers will regret throwing their wickets away after having laid such a great platform. Guernsey will take great heart from such a fine bowling and fielding performance which created the pressure on the Jersey’s batsmen, and will hope that the very impressive death bowling can be repeated in Singapore.

Dave Piesing on the GCB website gave his account of the match:

A fine all-round team performance from Guernsey ensured that they will depart for World Cricket League Division 6 in Singapore in 2 weeks time with a massive morale-boosting win against Jersey under their belts. The final margin of victory was 21 runs but for much of the second innings Jersey seemed to be in complete control. As ever in inter-insular cricket, a game can change dramatically with one dismissal and that was certainly the case on this occasion.
Jersey had brought back the previously-retired former captain Matt Hague and all-rounder Tony Carlyon for this game, and gave a debut to South African newcomer Hannes Botha. The very prolific Australian left-hander, Dean Morrison, who qualifies for ICC purposes prior to Jersey’s visit to Nepal for World Cricket League Division 5 next February, was also selected. Indeed, Jersey’s top four had already scored 11 centuries between them this season and were in prime form coming into the game.
Guernsey had an eye on Singapore and understandably picked a side with that tournament in mind, resisting the temptation to select any non-ICC eligible players. 10 of the selected side will be in Singapore and the only exception was regular wicketkeeper Matt Oliver who misses Singapore due to work commitments.
A sun-kissed KGV saw a healthy crowd which was estimated to be in the region of 700 by mid-afternoon. Recent rain meant that the wicket was somewhat slower and lower than would have been the case a month ago, but Guernsey skipper Stuart Le Prevost, who became a father for the first time just 24 hours earlier, had no hesitation in batting first after winning the toss.
The Jersey opening bowlers, Ryan Driver and Anthony Kay, started very impressively and conceded just 9 runs in the opening 7 overs with some very tight bowling backed up by some excellent ground fielding. Their pressure was duly rewarded when Oliver edged Driver behind. Jeremy Frith joined opener Lee Savident and, somewhat unusually, Frith outscored his partner as they steadily built a key partnership. Frith was starting to cut loose when he surprisingly knocked a full toss straight back to young left-arm spinner Ben Stevens to be caught and bowled for 36 (63 balls). This brought skipper Le Prevost to the crease and he continued the momentum in another key partnership with Savident.
Savident used his previous first-class experience well and had clearly worked out the pace of the wicket. Playing a low-risk game, he then tried to force the pace when in the 60s and just survived a very tough low chance at mid-on. In the next over he was badly dropped at mid-off by the normally very safe hands of Driver off the bowling of Peter Gough, and one sensed that the drop could prove very expensive. Savident re-focused on batting through the innings and with Le Prevost starting to bat very fluently the platform was being laid for a late innings flurry. Le Prevost was bowled by Kay for a fine 41 (53 balls) but this brought the hard-hitting South African GH Smit to the crease. Smit was quickly into his stride and smashed a vital 29 off just 21 balls in the closing overs, including a huge straight six off Kay. He seemed unfortunate to fall to a catch off a high full toss from Kay but only after keeping Savident company while the latter completed a very hard-earned century, ending with an unbeaten 102 from 139 balls, a scoring rate which gave a strong indication that it was a grafting wicket. A final score of 224 for 4 in 50 overs was clearly a challenging one for Jersey if the Guernsey bowlers could bowl in the right areas.
The Jersey openers, fellow left-handers Peter Gough and Dean Morrison, set about their task superbly with brilliant running between the wickets while they found the gaps in the in-field. But the Guernsey seamers were giving very little away and crucial boundaries were very hard to come by. Savident bowled his 10 overs straight through for just 35 runs, while Blane Queripel bowled an exceptional line to the two left-handers, conceding just 15 runs in his 6 overs. Jamie Nussbaumer continued the good work when he replaced Queripel, and with 30 overs gone Jersey seemed to be completely in control with 10 wickets in hand although the required run rate had crucially been allowed to get close to 6 an over. No problem with the two openers still at the wicket, but a much tougher challenger for any incoming batsmen.
The big breakthrough came when Gough needlessly played a reverse sweep to off-spinner Gary Rich and was bowled for 44 (83 balls), and when Hague soon chipped one back at Jeremy Frith, Guernsey started to sense that the gate was open. Frith then trapped Driver leg-before, but Morrison had cut loose, tucking into Rich with some big blows over long-on including one big 6. But then Morrison surprisingly holed out at long-on to Frith at the other end, Kris Moherndl pouching the catch, and Guernsey were now starting to become favourites as the required run-rate started to climb to 7, 8 and then 9 an over. Frith ended with the very impressive figures of 3 for 34 from his 10 overs, with the three wickets being the huge wickets of Morrison, Hague and Driver.
Guernsey’s two death bowlers, Stuart Bisson and Jamie Nussbaumer, then bowled quite brilliantly in the last 10 overs as they fired in yorker after yorker, just conceding singles as the Jersey middle order desperately tried to find the boundaries even with the batting power play in progress for the last 5 overs. Despite a straight six from Carlyon off Bisson, Jersey’s position quickly became a virtually impossible won and they ended up 21 runs short with 8 wickets down. Bisson, who only came on in the 41st over, took 2 for 32 in his vital 5 overs, while Nussbaumer returned the excellent figures of 1 for 32 from 9 overs.
It was perhaps expected that Savident would indeed win the man of the match award for his century and tight bowling spell, but on other days Frith, Nussbaumer or Bisson would have been significant candidates.
Jersey will clearly believe that this was a game that they should have won comfortably halfway through their innings with 10 wickets in hand, and certainly both of their openers will regret throwing their wickets away after having laid such a great platform. Guernsey will take great heart from such a fine bowling and fielding performance which created the pressure on the Jersey’s batsmen, and will hope that the very impressive death bowling can be repeated in Singapore.

Jersey Post
‘Savident makes the most of his lives to spur Sarnian victory’ by Andy Bradshaw
Jersey dropped centurion Lee Savident twice and missed a run out opportunity and they paid the penalty as they were defeated by 21 runs in the inter-insular on Saturday. At the KGV Field Savident, Guernsey’s first professional cricketer, scored an unbeaten 102 helping his team to a 50 over total of 224. Jersey replied with an opening stand of 117 from Dean Morrison and Peter Gough but the middle order failed to continue the momentum.

REVIEW

Inside Track on Saturday 1st August by Rob Batiste
‘Apathy must be nipped out’