Haka does trick on Guernsey

GUERNSEY'S indoor cricket team have faced down the famous New Zealand haka at the Indoor World Cup in Bristol. The side was defeated 193 runs to nil in the match, but the Guernsey players are still talking about the haka experience.

'I don't think any other Guernsey team can say they've stood up to the haka,' said fast bowler Jonny Orme.

'They were seriously intense blokes on the pitch, but really nice off it.'

Guernsey coach Jason Shambrook described the haka as 'absolutely awesome'.

'I've never witnessed anything like that,' he said. 'You'd have a 6ft 3in. guy standing about five feet in front of you, veins bulging, and the hairs on the back of your neck are standing on end.'

Yesterday Guernsey fell to a narrow 19-run defeat to Pakistan in their first match of the plate competition, having beaten France the previous evening to complete the group proper. Captain Lee Savident claimed five wickets in an over to propel his side to the win, 76 runs to 30.

They meet France again today when a win should take them through to the plate final, almost certainly against the Pakistanis.

Orme and Ryan Bishop made 41 in their opening partnership for Guernsey, but Jeremy Frith and Blain Queripel couldn't make the 26 needed from the final partnership to claim the game.