Inter Insular #61 2012

The match was played at Grainville, Jersey
on Saturday 1st September 2012
for the Marlborough Trophy
50 overs per side
Umpires Jeremy Sharratt (Guernsey) and Heath Kearns (Jersey), Suthan Selvachandran (3rd umpire)
Scorers Sue Veillard (Guernsey) and Gina Kearns (Jersey)
Toss won by Guernsey who elected to bat
Jersey won by 9 wickets

Guernsey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Jersey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
G H SmitbStevens4070936057.14McBey9136330184.0
R KnellercFarleybMcBey917130152.94Hawkins-Kay10229100602.9
T DukecFarleybMcBey717221041.18Bodenstein7228100424.0
L SavidentcHawkins-KaybWatkins1318152072.22Watkins8.5041210264.8
*S E Le PrevostbStevens1620203080.0Stevens10128300202.8
J GalecDewhurstbBodenstein3172771043.06Perchard50100002.0
L B FerbrachecMcBeybStevens3145501068.89
D HoopercWatkinsbMcBey1120220055.0
+†T KimbercFaudemerbHawkins-Kay2670033.33
J NussbaumercFarleybWatkins49160044.44
M Ellisnotout4570080.0
Extras (b0, lb4, w2, nb0, p0)6
Total (in 49.5 overs)174
Fall of wickets
1-12(Kneller,4.2ov),2-39(Duke,10.5ov),3-53(Savident,14.6ov),4- Prevost,21.1ov),5-94(Smit,27.6 ov),6-149(Ferbrache,42.4 ov),7-154(Gale,43.6 ov),8-159(Kimber,45.6 ov),9-166(Hooper,48.2 ov),10-174(Nussbaumer,49.5 ov)

Jersey innings    RunsBallsMins4s6sSR Guernsey bowlingOvMdnRunsWktsWNbSRER
N Watkinsnotout731291444056.59Savident103170001.7
+†E J FarleycKimberbEllis2048582041.67Duke30130304.3
B Stevensnotout7387866383.91Nussbaumer80320204.0
*P GoughdnbHooper60270004.5
A Hawkins-KaydnbGale30270009.0
C BodensteindnbEllis10139100603.9
A DewhurstdnbSmit40160004.0
J Faudemerdnb
C Percharddnb
R McBeydnb
C Bissondnb
Extras (b0, lb5, w1, nb3, p0)9
Total (for 1 wkt in 44 overs)175
Fall of wickets
1-52(Farley,17.5ov)

PREVIEW

‘Frith is ruled out sick’ by Rob Batiste on Sat 25th August

Jeremy Frith            Guernsey Evening Press

Guernsey will defend the inter-insular next weekend without its top player. Jeremy Frith is definitely out of the game after it was confirmed he has pneumonia and will need up to six weeks to fully recover. ‘Gutted,’ was the all-rounder’s simple reaction yesterday. Frith, who was man-of-the-match last year with a match-winning 129 and has been the fulcrum of the side since making his debut in 2001, has been unwell for several weeks. ‘I’ve had a chest infection for the last three to four weeks and it did not clear up,’ he said yesterday. ‘I had some tests and it was confirmed as pneumonia. They are saying it will take three to six weeks to shift. I haven’t played for three weeks. I was knackered after that and was (all) over the place afterwards. All the advice is to make sure I don’t tire myself out.’ Island manager Peter Vidamour will confirm the Guernsey 12 for next Saturday’s game at Grainville over the weekend, but admitted it was a big blow to lose a player of Frith’s quality. ‘Of course it is … he’s been our top player for some time. It’s a loss, but we have to deal with it.’ Frith said he was confident that the team will continue its winning run over Jersey. ‘We’ve put in a number of quality good team performances in recent times going back to Malaysia when Tom Kimber made 90. ‘It (my absence) is not a help but it shouldn’t be a barrier to the team winnings.’
Pure statistics, however, highlight just how difficult Frith will be to be affectively replaced. His 11 appearances since his debut in 2001 have produced 499 runs at an average of 62. On top of that he has chipped in with 21 wickets, invariably bowling a full 10-over stint or close to it. He has conceded runs at a rate of just 3.18 per over and an average of 12.9 runs per wicket. And in that time Guernsey have run out winners eight times.
Although under the weather Frith received a fillip with the performances of his island under-17 team in three games against the touring Sussex Districts this week. Guernsey won two and tied the third of the games at KGV and in each match the home side capitalised on a major innings. In the final game it was Josh Kirk’s undefeated 81 which proved the basis of a challenging total. Before then it was a century from Olly Nightingale and in the first game 79 from opener Toby Belton. ‘We’ve been trying to make sure that ideally two players, if not one, make a significant contribution with the bat. ‘That’s what happened over the past three days,’ said Frith.

‘Two new caps in side to take on Jersey’ on Mon 27th August

Max Ellis                  GuernseyCricketPhotos

Guernsey will field two new caps in defending the inter-insular trophy at Grainville next weekend. Spinning all-rounder James Gale comes in, most probably as a direct replacement for the unwell Jeremy Frith, while there is a first appearance for the young left-arm spinner Max Ellis. Captain Stu Le Prevost said the team go into the game full of confidence despite the blow of losing Frith. ‘It’s a big blow losing Frithy. We’ve almost got to find two new players.’ Le Prevost admitted that plenty of thought still needed to be given to the batting order, the disruption to the settled order being compounded by the unavailability of former Hampshire player Tim Ravenscroft. ‘We’ve got a flexible top six with hitters and accumulators. But it’s key we make sensible decisions and leave ourselves with an order we are not used to.’ On Gale’s selection, the captain said he was pleased for him. ‘He’s had a great season and is probably the top scorer in the island. He’s also a good fielder and he gives us the option to have a few leggies.’
Team: Stuart Le Prevost (captain), Lee Savident, James Gale, Ben Ferbrache, Tom Kimber (w/k), Ross Kneller, Jamie Nussbaumer, Tim Duke, GH Smit, Dave Hooper, Max Ellis. 12th man Adam Martel.

‘Jersey pick Watkins’
As expected Jersey have included Nat Watkins in their squad to face Guernsey in the Marlborough Trust Inter-Insular at Grainville tomorrow. Watkins has played first-class cricket for Durham University this summer and has impressed for OVs in the CI League with both bat and ball. He is one of four left-arm spinners in a youthful 13-man squad.
Peter Gough (capt), Edward Farley, Ben Stevens, Anthony Kay, Corey Bisson, Corne Bodenstein, Nathaniel Watkins, Andrew Dewhurst, Charles Perchard, James Faudemer, Robert McBey, Joe Mayes, Paul Connelly.

[James SJ Gale is the son of Steve C Gale who played for Shropshire 5 times and is now on the 1st class umpires list. James was born on 14th Sept 1986 in Shrewsbury and also played 5 times for Shropshire (against Wales, Berkshire, Herefordshire, Wiltshire and Oxfordshire) and scored 10 runs in 5 innings with bowling figures of 61 overs 14 maidens 217 runs 5 wickets. His best was 1 for 8 against Wales]

[Nathaniel AT Watkins, son of the Victoria College Principal, was born in Oxford on 7th Nov 1991. He has played 5 first class matches for Durham Marylebone Cricket Club University. He has scored 54 runs with the highest being 38*, bowled 87 overs, 4 maidens, 328 runs, 10 wickets with a best of 5-88. His SR is 52.2 with an ER of 3.77]

‘Cornford confident’ by Gareth Le Prevost
THE absence of Jeremy Frith gives others the chance to be a Guernsey inter-insular hero today at Grainville. Coach Andy Cornford acknowledged that the loss of their key all-rounder to pneumonia is a major blow to the island side, but at the same time he is eager to see the response of the rest of the squad to losing the man who scored a magnificent century in last year’s victory at the KGV. ‘Most importantly, I have spoken to Frithy and he is devastated that he cannot play, but this is all about him getting fit and well again. At times like this, cricket plays second fiddle to someone’s health,’ Cornford said. ‘Obviously he is a fantastic cricketer, but it is an exciting time for us to play in a high-profile fixture when other people are going to have to step up to the plate. ‘We went to Singapore in February [for ICC World Cricket League Five] and really should have got promoted and we did that without Lee Savident, so we can function without key players. ‘Yes, Frithy is an exceptional player and his record shows that, but we can still play and perform without him.’
Although Guernsey were comprehensive winners of last year’s match at the KGV, in the more recent meeting of the two islands in Kuala Lumpur in WCL6 in September, the Sarnians prevailed by just nine runs in a thriller. From that match, Guernsey will be missing both Frith and Tim Ravenscroft this time around while Gary Rich has now retired and Jersey also have a couple of changes. But whichever XIs are on the scorecard, Cornford believes that they will be well matched. ‘We are going in confident, but every time we play Jersey the games are fiercely fought and we certainly do not expect it to be any different this time around,’ he said. ‘Both teams are going to have some new young players playing and, as always, those who can handle the day itself will be a big factor on the outcome. ‘It’s all about who will use their skills best on the day.’ Guernsey will hand debuts to all-rounder James Gale and left-arm spinner Max Ellis, both of whom have impressed Cornford this summer. ‘Post Singapore, Max has been involved with our programme of training and matches and he has been really impressive. ‘Over the last year or so he has matured as a bowler. He is not afraid to try and turn the ball or give it some air and he looks very good for the future of Guernsey cricket. ‘James is multi-skilled and a good athlete who has done well in domestic cricket and hopefully he can transfer that form onto the representative stage. ‘Against Denmark he showed good character and he has got the right pedigree to come forward and do well in this squad. ‘Importantly, Guernsey have plenty of options in both the batting line-up and the bowling attack. While Cornford said he had heard good things of Grainville this season, he added that decisions made on the day will largely come down to how the pitch plays. ‘With the horrendous summer we have had, you are not really sure what awaits you at the ground. We will just have to wait and see what we find on Saturday morning,’ he said. ‘Everything depends on the surface, but we are comfortable with the side we have got.

‘Gale honoured to make debut’ by Matt Lihou
JAMES GALE admits that his debut inter-insular for Guernsey will bring about added nerves as the Sarnians look to make four in a row. The 25-year-old former Minor Counties batter has enjoyed a fine domestic season and is one of two debutants in the team, along with Max Ellis. Although confident of success, Gale knows how big the fixture is for all islanders. ‘There are always going to be nerves because I know just how important this game is to Guernsey,’ he said. ‘Although I have only been in the island for three-and-a-half years, I have spoken to players in the squad and others to know how it is seen. ‘I see myself as more of a supporting player with all the talent we have got, but I am ready to put my hand up with a big performance if it is needed. ‘My season has gone pretty well so I was not too surprised to be called up, but I was delighted when it happened and honoured to be considered amongst the island’s high-quality players.

James Gale on debut gets solidly behind the ball              GuernseyCricketPhotos


The other debutant set to play a big role is 20-year-old Max Ellis, the specialist spinner in the starting XI, who has enjoyed a fine season with Argylls. ‘This is the biggest match of my career so far so there are going to be some nerves beforehand,’ he said. ‘But having been involved with the squad already helps because I already know most of the lads involved. ‘I have been bowling well this year so always thought I would be there-or-thereabouts but I have to make sure I carry on my form now into this match. Hopefully we can go out there and do the business against Jersey on Saturday.’

MATCH

‘Very ordinary Greens outbatted and outbowled’ by Gareth Le Prevost

JERSEY turned the tables on Guernsey comprehensively as they regained the inter-insular trophy on Saturday. The nine-wicket win at Grainville was as convincing as the margin of victory suggests and a far cry from the 147-run defeat they suffered at the KGV a year ago against a Jeremy Frith-inspired side. Guernsey were missing their ill all-rounder this time around, but felt they had enough strength in their side to cope with his loss. On paper they were right, but on the pitch they were outperformed by a youthful Jersey outfit who showed a maturity far beyond their years.
The home side were disciplined and composed, well led by Peter Gough and in man-of-the-match Ben Stevens they had the outstanding player on show. It was no wonder that Gough wore a beaming smile after lifting the cup at the third time of asking having chased down 174 with plenty to spare. ‘The commitment of the lads has been brilliant and they just showed character out there today,’ said the Jersey skipper. ‘I just had a good feeling from the first three of four overs. I just felt like we could win the game because of the way we had started. The Sarnian view was unsurprisingly very downbeat. ‘Unfortunately we were very, very ordinary today,’ said coach Andy Cornford. ‘We were outplayed in all three departments of the game and they were worthy winners. ‘We are disappointed and there are certain things within the team we have been talking about that we need to do and today highlights some of those issues. ‘Today we were well and truly beaten.’

A clip to leg from Tim Duke                                                 GuernseyCricketPhotos

On an outcast morning with neither side sure how the pitch would play, it was suggested that it was a good toss to lose, so perhaps it was a bad omen when Stuart Le Prevost called correctly. But even after he had decided to bat and the strip turned out to be a tricky one, Guernsey still fell a good 25 runs short of what they had hoped to achieve. They were helped by wickets falling regularly when partnerships were key. First to go was Ross Kneller, who had already deposited new cap Rob McBey for a huge six over mid-wicket before the South African bowler got his revenge with one that swung away and took the edge through to wicketkeeper Ed Farley. Tim Duke, promoted in the order to Frith’s normal position at three, also went caught behind off McBey as a short wide delivery got big on him as he attempted to cut and Guernsey were 39 for two in the 11th over. GH Smit was looking good though, and Lee Savident strode to the crease intent on stamping his authority on the proceeding. The former Hampshire man looked set to do that, too, with a couple of early boundaries, but luck was not on his side as another debutant, Nat Watkins, struck in his second over of left-arm spin. Savident could do little about his dismissal as a straight ball on a decent length spat up at him, took the top edge and looped both his and Farley’s head for slip Anthony Kay to pouch a simple catch.

Lee tries to increase the score  before his demise                                GuernseyCricketPhotos

The skipper also looked in decent touch early on, hitting Corne Bodenstein out of the attack with successive boundaries through point, but just as he and Smit were looking set, Le Prevost played over the top of a straight one from Stevens and the visitors were 81 for four and in trouble. Stevens was to prove the pick of the bowlers as he continually put the ball in the right areas and made the batsmen work hard for their runs. Ironically, though, it was undoubtedly his worst ball of the afternoon that accounted for Smit. The opener finished as Guernsey’s top scorer with 40 and his eyes lit up on the one occasion Stevens dragged one down short, but he tried to hit the ball too hard and managed only to chop it onto his own stumps. Guernsey needed to rebuild and new cap James Gale together with an in-form Ben Ferbrache did a decent job with the best partnership of the innings. Both made 31 and they put on 55 for the sixth wicket to put their side back on track for a total of 200, which would have been challenging to chase. However, having done the hard work, they both fell within the space of two overs, Ferbrache holing out to long on and then Gale doing likewise to long off.

GH Smit pulls aggressively                           GuernseyCricketPhotos


That was the catalyst for Guernsey losing their final five wickets for just 25 runs as Jersey turned the screw. Tom Kimber went to a fine sliding catch from James Faudemer coming in off the long-on boundary, David Hooper chipped a simple chance to mid-wicket and Jamie Nussbaumer got a nick behind in the final over to give Watkins a second wicket. However, the OVs all-rounder’s main role was still to come as he anchored Jersey’s innings with outstanding poise to ensure that there were few nerves during the chase. Guernsey were desperate for early wickets, but they did not come, despite another fine spell from Savident. As usual the big man was making the batsmen play and miss with regularity in a miserly 10-over spell but, as with his batting, luck was just not with him. The rest of the attack, though, had off days and could not hit the right areas with the consistency that their Jersey counterparts had shown. Watkins and Farley gave Jersey the start they required with an opening stand of 52 before Farley became the only man to fall, Kimber taking a juggling catch off an excellent Max Ellis delivery that turned and bounced to take the shoulder of the bat in his first over on debut. The 24th over of the innings, also bowled by Ellis, was then to prove crucial. Off the first ball, Stevens took on a risky single and Ferbrache threw down the stumps from point, but the batsman was just home.

Jamie Nussbaumer tries his luck but to no avail                    GuernseyCricketPhotos

Then Watkins miscued a sweep shot which looped out to deep mid-wicket, but Hooper was unable to cling on to the chance as he came sliding in. In that one over, Guernsey’s heads dropped and it was just a matter of when and not if Jersey would win. As it turned out, Watkins and Stevens steadily accumulated the runs until, with skipper Le Prevost rolling the dice, Stevens took to Gale and launched him for two big sixes and then a four over extra cover to wrap up victory with six overs remaining. ‘The bowling and fielding were fantastic. We only used six bowlers, despite having other options available, because they all did a really good job,’ said Gough. ‘The game-plan was to bowl back of a length, although the bowlers quickly worked out that slightly fuller was good today, and we had a good 10 overs from the openers which really set the tone.

Lee Savident puts in the effort for little reward                                   GuernseyCricketPhotos

‘GH and Stu then got a decent partnership going but we were able to take risks, keep the field up, and it was one of those days when the gambles paid off. ‘Then, Wato and Ben managed the situation really well when batting. ‘Once they were in, they knew it was going to be tricky for someone else to start afresh out there so they valued their wickets and it was really mature batting from them.’ Cornford would have liked to have seen his batsmen produce something similar. ‘We were well under par with the bat, but we were five wickets down way too early,’ he said. ‘We had a good partnership between James Gale and Ben Ferbrache, but then lost wickets quickly again. ‘Despite the score, I felt it was a very average pitch, but we did not get it right at all today and we spoke about where to bowl, how to bowl on that pitch, but we did not execute that.

The spectators look worried – with due cause                                          GuernseyCricketPhotos

Jersey Post
JERSEY turned the tables on Guernsey comprehensively as they regained the inter-insular trophy on Saturday.The nine-wicket win at Grainville was as convincing as the margin of victory suggests and a far cry from the 147-run defeat they suffered at the KGV in Guernsey a year ago, against a Jeremy Frith-inspired side. Guernsey were missing their ill all-rounder this time around, but felt they had enough strength in their side to cope with his loss.On paper they were right, but on the pitch they were outperformed by a youthful Jersey outfit who showed a maturity far beyond their years. The home side were disciplined and composed, well led by Peter Gough and in man-of-the-match Ben Stevens they had the outstanding player on show.

Ben Stevens       (Photo J Carpenter)

BBC Guernsey website
‘Jersey ease to nine-wicket win over rivals Guernsey’

Jersey ended Guernsey’s winning streak in the annual inter-insular matches, beating their Channel Island rivals by nine wickets at Grainville. Batting first after winning the toss, Guernsey were bowled out for 174. Ben Stevens starred with the ball, with figures of 3-28, including the wicket of top-scorer GH Smit, who made 40 at the top of the order. Stevens then scored an unbeaten 73 from 87 balls to see Jersey home with six overs remaining. “We knew if we could bat the 50 overs and bat properly then we’d get the runs,” said Jersey’s coach Craig Hogan. “Our fielding was good again and we took some great catches. “It was a really good all round team effort.”

The Marlborough Trophy                                GuernseyCricketPhotos

REVIEW
Inside Track by Rob Batiste

Losing last weekend’s Marlborough Trophy cricket inter-insular was no great surprise in the sports room here. Only the humiliating margin of defeat raised eyebrows. But it’s gone. Done and dusted. Time to move on. It’s what’s next that is important and part of that process will, I expect, be the hiring of a full-time senior island coach to get the best out of our senior players.
The Guernsey Cricket Board are in the thick of a thorough review of its workings, competitions and representative structure, and in so doing they have to impose a new set of standards, ones which befit an international team and, which demands the sort of commitment we are getting from our leading footballers and rugby men. There may be casualties ie. players who don’t want to commit the time, but for the long-term good of the sport it will be worth it. What we can’t continue to have is a now half-baked evening league, soft weekend cricket and an under-prepared senior team which, for a variety of reasons, Guernsey were as they rocked up at Grainville.

An action shot – It all went wrong in the batting                    GuernseyCricketPhotos