Ollie Nightingale’s side made it three wins from three matches with a 46-run victory at the Happy Valley Ground to rise above their opponents into top spot in their table ahead of their final group game with Slovenia on Wednesday.
‘We have definitely grown into the tournament, we’re really happy with how people went today and hopefully we are building some momentum,’ said Guernsey captain Nightingale.
‘It will be another tough game [against Slovenia] because you never really know what you’ll get in these qualifiers, but we will come back tomorrow morning refreshed and hopefully get a win.’
A second-wicket stand of 83 between Josh Butler and Tom Nightingale laid the foundation for a big total of 196 for 7 after Guernsey had been asked to bat on Tuesday afternoon.
Butler started brightly, hitting three consecutive boundaries in the third over, before he lost opening partner Lucas Barker as he holed out to long on.
Nightingale was soon catching up to and overtaking Butler, showing no mercy to Waqar Zalmai in particular when the medium pacer was introduced to the attack, as he bludgeoned three big sixes in the 10th over, the last of which brought up his own half-century from just 22 deliveries and took the team into three figures exactly halfway through their innings.
The drinks break, though, halted Nightingale’s momentum and five balls after play had resumed, he got under another attempt to go big and Armaan Randhawa took a steepling catch at deep mid-wicket. He had made 55 from 25 balls with four fours and five sixes.
Having been happy to give Nightingale the strike, Butler then went on to complete his own half-century off 39 balls before depositing a massive six off the next delivery in the 14th over while Matt Stokes was bringing out the reverse sweep to good effect at the other end.
Butler departed for a well-compiled 68 from 49 balls, pulling flat to deep mid-wicket the delivery after hitting his third six of the day, but Stokes continued with his innovation, making 42 from 23 balls with half-a-dozen boundaries.
Wickets fell cheaply late on as Guernsey tried to reach 200, but they fell just short with Ollie Nightingale miscuing his attempt to hit the final ball of the innings over the rope.
It was six or out at the start of the Austrian reply as boundaries were interspersed with a wicket every over for the first four overs as Guernsey took some outstanding catches – Ben Ferbrache and Stokes in the deep, while Tom Nightingale and Luke Bichard made excellent grabs while back-pedalling out of the 30-yard circle.
Even after the powerplay was complete, the Austrian innings continued in much the same do-or-die vein with wicketkeeper Zak Damarell taking a couple of brilliant catches, including a crucial one to dismiss big-hitting opener Karanbir Singh for 59, which included six maximums.
Man-of-the-match Stokes was the pick of the bowlers, bringing a much-needed calmness to the proceedings, while teenager Ed Robinson made a good comeback after a wayward start to claim three wickets before taking the catch that sealed the victory off Martin-Dale Bradley’s leg spin as Austria were bowled out for 150 in the 18th over.
‘It was pretty much an all-round performance from everyone,’ said Stokes.
‘It was set up really well in the powerplay and then Tom showed how destructive he can be.’
Earlier in the day, Jersey all-but assured themselves top spot in the Group A with a convincing eight-wicket victory over France Cricket, which also made it three wins from three for them.
