Guernsey apprehensive as Bermuda stroll to win

ANDY BIGGINS emphasised the need to 'learn something from this game' as Guernsey suffered a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Bermuda on Saturday. Perhaps the most important thing to learn was discipline with both bat and ball.

But what Guernsey really needed to take from this encounter was that the gap between the two sides was not as emphatic as the result.

Understandably, there was apprehension in their ranks once the game was under way. They were up against a side who have qualified for the 2007 World Cup and that was bound to bring with it a few nerves.

However, they undoubtedly have the talent to mix it with these guys, even if they fell short of proving it on this occasion.

All Guernsey need do is look at the example set by Mark Jefferies.

Optimists' weekend skipper was called in at the 11th hour to replace Gary Rich, who damaged a calf muscle against the MCC on Thursday, and he looked right at home in this company.

After Biggins had elected to bat, Jefferies grabbed his chance at the top of the order with both hands as he compiled a fine half-century.

No one has ever doubted the man's talent and he displayed a fine array of shots on both sides of the wicket with one hook for four particularly eye-catching.

He lost opening partner Matt Oliver fairly early as the left-hander toed a catch to George O'Brien junior at extra cover off Ryan Steede while Ami Banerjee contributed only five before getting a pearler from Saleem Mukuddem which he edged to slip.

But Jefferies was calm and collected as he moved to a deserved 50. Then, though, the excitement seemed to get to him and he fell shortly afterwards having a heave at spinner Delyone Borden having faced 85 balls and having hit five boundaries.

With spin being introduced at both ends, Guernsey began getting bogged down after their decent start.

That caused the pressure to build and wickets were inevitable.

Biggins chipped a return catch to Borden and Jeremy Frith, the second highest scorer with 30, was dismissed by Hasam Durham.

That brought together Stuart Le Prevost and Justin Meades with the scoreboard reading 118 for five. How Guernsey wanted to be 50 more when those two had come to the crease.

However, they batted sensibly despite looking tense early on and took their side past 150, as hopes that Guernsey would set the 230 they were looking for began to rise once more.

Those hopes were dashed, though, as both batsmen fell on 151, Le Prevost for 20 and Meades 14.

The tail pushed the score to 170 as Guernsey were bowled out with two balls of their 50 overs to go.

As an experiment, Bermuda sent in O'Brien as a pinch-hitter at the start of their reply and his cavalier style certainly entertained the spectators.

Teenage prospect Peter Le Hegarat, who was given the responsibility to open the bowling with Banerjee, wasn't quite sure what to make of it and although he produced some good balls, they would often fly to the boundary. On one occasion, he was nearly decapitated in his follow through.

The Sarnians did not help themselves by contributing too many extras once more.

Banerjee got the breakthrough, having Treadwell Gibbons caught at point and O'Brien finally went when Frith pitched one in the perfect spot to beat the bat.

From then on, most of the Bermudians made little contributions batting around Irving Romaine, who notched up an unbeaten half-century with the minimum of fuss.

With Biggins wanting to take the pace off the ball and Rich not available, Jefferies followed up his earlier 54 with three wickets but Bermuda were never in danger of losing.

They reached their target with more than 12 overs to spare.