Lawrenson, Sumerauer bag third straight win for Jersey

Jersey recorded their third consecutive victory at CWC Challenge League B at Kampala today (June 21) with Josh Larenson's maiden List A century and Julius Sumerauer's record 6 for 32 setting up a comfortable win over Italy. Uganda recorded their first win of the round, rolling the still winless Bermuda for just 95 before Simon Ssesazi's unbeaten fifty guided them home to inch the hosts back ahead of the pack. They lead Hong Kong by a single point albeit having played one more match.

Consecutive defeats at the hands of Jersey and Hong Kong had seen previously-unbeaten Uganda slip into second place earlier in the week, but the hosts bounced back with an emphatic win over the hapless Bermudans at Lugogo Stadium, all six of the bowlers called upon by Brian Masaba delivering at least one wicket as the Islanders were rolled for just 95 in the 29th over. Dalin Richardson and skipper Kamau Leverock were the only top-order bats to break double figures for Bermuda. Though Amari Ebbins and Zeko Burgess provided some resistance late in the innings, it wasn't enough to see Bermuda to a collective century

Ssesazi's brisk half-century from the top would ensure the chase was never in trouble, despite the early loss of partner Arnold Otwani and Ronak Patel falling just after taking Uganda past the half-way stage. In company of Kenneth Waiswa, Ssesazi took the hosts home on the penultimate ball of the 18th over, finishing unbeaten on exactly 50 off 53 balls as Cricket Cranes closed out an eight-wicket win.

The concurrent game over at Kyambogo proved no closer in the end, despite Italy having the upper hand early on. Lawrenson's ton saw Jersey recover from an early collapse to post a competitive 223 for 9, before Sumerauer's six-fer wrecked the Italian chase.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Jersey found themselves initially on the back foot as Gareth Berg took three early wickets, bowling Greenwood through the gate, tempting Harrison Carlyon into a loose wide drive before swinging one into Ben Stevens' pads to reduce Jersey to 34/3 after 11 overs. Jaspreet Singh would make that 35/4 in the next over, pinning Jonty Jenner in front for a five-ball duck. Lawrenson then weathered the early storm, building partnerships with Dom Blampied and Jake Dunford to take Jersey to 167/6 after 38. Lawrenson continued to lose partners through the death, but Chuggy Perchard and Eliot Miles kept him company long enough to see the 19 year-old to a maiden ton, finishing unbeaten on 102 from 129.

Sumerauer did not initially look like a bowler on course for six wickets, struggling for his line as he sent two consecutive wides down leg and then another outside off in his first over. He then started his next in similar fashion. He took his first scalp in his next, banging one short and rushing Joy Perera on the pull, the Italian skipper shanking to Greenwood at midwicket.

Eliot Miles struck next as Nicolai Smith, dropped the precious over, couldn't ride his luck for long as Miles spun one in through the gate. Sumerauer was brought back soon after and struck with the first ball of his second spell to pin Manpreet Singh in front of leg, and though Gian-Piero Meade offered some resistance through the middle, he would become Sumerauer's third victim in the 29th. Italy were left on the ropes at 108/5.

From there the innings fell rapidly apart, Sumerauer nicking off Berg for a duck and Miles removing Kaligamage and Singh in rapid succession, the former inside edging onto his off stump and the latter done in the flight and clean bowled, before Sumerauer wrapped things up. Line by now on the money, Sumerauer twice took the top of off stump to see Italy all out for 135 in 36.3 overs.

The win sees Jersey, unbeaten on this leg of the League, consolidate their place in the top three just one point behind second-placed Hong Kong, who they will play on Friday. The two defeated teams will be back in action a day earlier, with Hong Kong first facing Bermuda at Kyambogo, while Italy will take on Kenya at Lugogo stadium.