Greens hold nerve to beat the drop

GUERNSEY secured their survival in Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Six with a tense 25-run win over Botswana at the Singapore Cricket Club yesterday.

After losing their first three matches of the competition at the hands of Singapore, Bahrain and Malaysia, the Greens needed to beat Norway and Botswana to ensure that they did not finish in the bottom two places and be relegated to Division Seven.

When the Sarnians got the better of Norway on Thursday, everything came down to yesterday's game.

And after setting 241, the pressure was on as the Africans gave it a good stab.

But ultimately they fell short on 216 and a tired Guernsey side had survived.

'Staying up is great,' said Guernsey skipper Stuart Le Prevost. 'That was the main aim after losing three on the bounce. To come back like this is great. Full credit to the boys.'

Island manager Dave Hearse was clearly very relieved afterwards.

'I'm very pleased for the players,' he said. 'It's mission accomplished. They've deserved it.'