Guernsey edged out in a thriller at Grainville
GUERNSEY came within a whisker of turning a memorable season into a brilliant one at Grainville on Saturday.
However, hosts Jersey edged to a nail-biting two-wicket win with one ball to spare to retain the Inter-Insular Trophy in a thriller.
In a match initially reduced to 45 overs per side due to a travel delay before a stoppage for rain saw it lose half-a-dozen more overs, Matt Stokes once again shone with the willow for Guernsey, who had been asked to bat after Chuggy Perchard won the toss.
Stokes made a classy 85 from 95 balls and shared in a vital fifth-wicket stand of 103 with skipper Ollie Nightingale, who made 49, as Guernsey posted 204 for 7.
Jersey debutant Stan Norman and Harrison Carlyon put on 115 for the first wicket in one ball less than 25 overs at the start of the run chase, but once Luke Bichard made the breakthrough, Guernsey fought their way back into the game.
When Patrick Gouge was the fourth batter to depart, it sparked the fall of five wickets for the addition of just 29 runs to set up a grandstand finish, but Scott Simpson hit a boundary off the penultimate ball of the match to see Jersey across the line.
