Warr sets Jersey up for death by spin
YOUNG Pessimists all-rounders Jonny Warr and Tim Ravenscroft played the starring roles as the Investec Guernsey under-17 cricket team beat Jersey by 75 runs in a rain-delayed clash at Victoria College on Sunday.
YOUNG Pessimists all-rounders Jonny Warr and Tim Ravenscroft played the starring roles as the Investec Guernsey under-17 cricket team beat Jersey by 75 runs in a rain-delayed clash at Victoria College on Sunday. Warr cracked an undefeated 89 and Ravenscroft, having unusually failed with the bat, took four for six with his off-spinners.
Because of rain, the game was reduced to 40 overs per side.
Having won the toss, the Guernsey skipper, Luke Nussbaumer, made the strange decision to bat in what were difficult playing conditions early on, with an overcast sky and the ball seaming all over the place on a bowler-friendly track.
Jersey coach Chris Minty admitted that had they won the toss, they would have put Guernsey in.
At 79 for five off 19 overs, the visitors were struggling, but then a magnificent partnership of 96 at more than a run a ball between Warr and Peter Le Hegarat saw the innings recover along with the weather.
When Le Hegarat was out for an excellent 48, including eight fours, Guernsey were well set at 175 for six.
A final flourish of 42 runs from the last six overs produced a more than acceptable total of 217 for seven.
Warr scored his runs from only 82 balls faced, including one massive pull for six and 10 fours. Will Golder, the left-arm-over opening bowler for Jersey, was the pick of their attack finishing with four for 28 from his eight overs.
In reply, Jersey struggled against the opening bowling partnership of Le Hegarat and Warr, scoring only one run off the bat from the first five overs.
Le Hegarat bowled six overs for 13 runs with the prize scalps of Gibbs and Hanley, both having had their stumps scattered.
When Ravenscroft, only 14, joined the attack after only 13 overs, the carnage continued.
His stunning eight-over spell of off-spin ripped the heart out of the Jersey innings.
'Warren Barrett would have been most impressed, because Tim Ravenscroft is going to haunt the Jersey batsmen for many more years than Warren even did,' said team manager Dave Nussbaumer.
'His action was flawless, he spun the ball a mile and his figures of four wickets for just six runs off eight overs gives testament to the fact that he was, quite simply, unplayable.'
