Jersey struggle at European Cricket Championship

The Jersey cricket team’s hopes of returning to the final stages of the European Cricket Championship are over.

An island team made up largely of young players finished last in their rain-affected group in Spain after three defeats and no result in their four games.

Only two players remain from the team that topped the ICC Challenge League in Kenya earlier this month: seamer Dan Birrell and debutant batsman Stan Norman.

Jersey had reached the final round of matches in the 10 overs-a-side event a year ago.

Their first match against Norway was a victim of the weather as Jersey lost by nine runs under the Duckworth-Lewis system.

Having restricted Norway to 128-5, Jersey were 44-3 in 4.4 overs when the match was suspended due to rain.

Italy beat Jersey by 22 runs in their second match as they failed to chase 167-3 despite Norman hitting an impressive 82 off just 34 balls, including seven sixes.

Jersey’s third match with Sweden was abandoned due to rain before a Netherlands XI beat the Channel Island team by five wickets.

Beau Gurner’s 46 not out off 19 balls helped Jersey to 119-7 in their 10 overs, a target the Dutch team chased with three overs to spare.