World Cricket League: Jersey lose to Malaysia in opener

Peter Gough hit five fours in his 91-ball innings

Jersey began their World League Division Four campaign with a three-wicket defeat by Malaysia in intense heat in Singapore.

The Channel Islanders, bidding for their third straight promotion, won the toss but were restricted to 180-9.

This was despite a solid start which saw skipper Peter Gough make 60 at the top of the order.

In reply, Malaysia opener Sheikh Nasir smashed six sixes on his way to 95 before retiring hurt.

Suharril Fetri and Mohammad Shukri steered their side home with 2.2 overs to spare.

Jersey felt they should have posted well over 200 and it looked like being a much bigger total halfway through the innings with just one wicket down and Gough still at the crease.

But after his departure, caught at deep mid-wicket, the Malaysian spinners took control with a tight line and length. Shahrulnizam Yusof (4-32) stopped the middle order from building any momentum.

Malaysia lost opener Anwar Arudin to the bowling of Anthony Kay early in the reply and two wickets in Nat Watkins' first over left them struggling on 49-4.

Sheikh Nasir though, who was named man of the match, remained the thorn in Jersey's side until he retired hurt agonisingly close to his century.

The exact injury is unclear but he had collapsed to the ground earlier in the innings after blasting a boundary.

His team-mates ensured his efforts were not in vain though as they knocked off the remaining runs with 14 balls of the 50 overs remaining.

Both sides were promoted from Division Five just three months ago in Malaysia, when Jersey beat the hosts in the group stage and the final.

In Saturday's other matches, Italy overcame Oman by three wickets and Denmark beat Singapore by 70 runs.