Guernsey fall short against Bermuda

GUERNSEY were left wondering what might have been when they let taking the biggest scalp in island cricket history slip from their grasp yesterday. On a positive note, the Sarnians gave Bermuda, a side who will be playing the likes of India and Sri Lanka in next year's World Cup, a good test as international cricket arrived at the KGV.

But it could have been so much sweeter.

Having been asked to chase a moderate 225, Guernsey were given a good start as Lee Savident, playing his first competitive game locally for a dozen years, scored a half-century.

A mid-innings slump saw the run rate increase but Ami Banerjee and Richard Veillard renewed hope with a stand of 51 only for the hosts to collapse from 173 for five to 178 all out.

'They are a good team and they know that they were in a game today,' said Guernsey manager Dave Hearse.

'225 was a gettable score but batting-wise we lost wickets when we did not want to.

'Lee, once he had got to 50, would usually expect to go on and get a bigger score and Jeremy Frith went at the wrong time.

'Another partnership between Richard and Ami got us back in the game, then they went in the same over and that is really what finished us off.'

Bermuda had beaten Guernsey the previous day by five wickets.

Over the two games, the visitors demonstrated what it takes to reach the big ICC tournaments.

When batting they put the bad balls away and they ran extremely well between the wickets, their bowling was tight and their fielding athletic and close to faultless.

'What this weekend demonstrated to me was that they are just that one notch ahead of us,' said Hearse.

'Saturday's performance was a little disappointing, but it was a young team with two 17-year-olds and a 19-year-old. We did not get smashed and if we had taken the difficult chances that came, we would have been back in the game.

With the ECC Division Two tournament in Scotland fast approaching, these two games have given Hearse food for thought with players staking a claim for selection, particularly Mark Jefferies who impressed with 54 and three wickets as a late replacement for Saturday's match.

'For us, this weekend has been a great exercise ahead of going to Scotland,' Hearse said. 'We need to play these tougher opponents to improve our game and show us the areas we need to work on.

'It has also been a worthwhile exercise for Bermuda and they are welcome back at any time.'