World Division Six: Jersey beat Vanuatu to ease to promotion

Jersey have won promotion to World Cricket League Division Five at a canter after a seven-wicket win over Vanuatu at Farmers Field.

Vanuatu won the toss and posted 189-9 batting first, helped by a 57-run stand between Joel John and Jono Dunn for the eighth wicket.

In reply, Jersey skipper Peter Gough hit 57 to set his side up for the win, which came with 6.4 overs to spare.

The tournament hosts finish top of the table with five wins from five.

The match had originally been scheduled for the previous day but was abandoned because of rain early in the second innings. Jersey had looked on course for the win at the time but not enough overs had been bowled to constitute a match.

Sunday had been due to be the position play-offs and finals day but ICC tournament officials scrapped them in favour of replaying the rained-off league fixtures.

Vanuatu wicketkeeper Trevor Langa made 53 at the top of the order but they stuttered to 123-7, before Dunn and John gave them something respectable to try to defend.

But Gough and opening partner Corey Bisson (24) set the tone for the Jersey reply with some quick scoring at the start of the innings.

Man-of-the-series Ben Stevens made 38 before being run out and it was left to Andy Dewhurst (24) and Ed Farley (33) to see their side home.

"It's a great day for Jersey cricket," said Gough. "This is one of the best days I've known since playing.

"Having been relegated a couple of times and having fought hard to stay in this division, getting promoted is huge.

"We can't wait for the challenge of Malaysia. We feel we can keep improving and we can't wait to go back there and do well in Division Five."

Second-placed Nigeria are also promoted along with Jersey. They will both join Guernsey, Cayman Islands, Tanzania and hosts Malaysia in Division Five early in 2014.

Vanuatu remain in Division Six, while Argentina, Bahrain and winless Kuwait are all relegated.