World Cricket League: Jersey relegated after defeat by Singapore

Dean Morrison top scored with 77 for Jersey but it was not enough to avoid defeat

Jersey have been relegated from World Cricket League Four after a five-wicket defeat to tournament hosts Singapore.

Dean Morrison (77) and Nat Watkins (73) shared a stand of 155 to provide the foundations for the Channel Islanders.

But they suffered a spectacular collapse, losing five wickets for just six runs, to slump to 224 all out.

In reply, Singapore opener Chaminda Ruwan Kumarage hit an unbeaten century to guide his side to victory on 227-5 with 3.1 overs to spare.

It means Jersey drop straight back to League Five while Singapore are promoted along with Malaysia.

"It's been a massive learning week," Jersey skipper Peter Gough told BBC Radio Jersey.

"We've fallen short in areas, which has been due to a higher standard of cricket.

"We've had periods in all these games where we've competed really well with these sides and I guess it's just about being able to do it under pressure."

The Channel Islanders had gone into the tournament targeting a third consecutive promotion after success in League Five and Six within the past year.

But a disappointing opening weekend in Singapore saw defeats to Malaysia and Oman, leaving them with an uphill battle to avoid the drop.

A win over Italy was followed by a heavy loss to Denmark, setting up the crucial clash with the hosts.

Heading into the game Jersey knew that, to stay up, they would almost certainly have to win and hope Oman and Italy both lost their final group matches.

Batting first after losing the toss, Jersey lost openers Gough and Ed Farley, along with Ben Stevens, within the first eight overs to find themselves 23-3.

The big partnership between Watkins and Morrison for the fourth wicket looked to have set them on the way to posting at least 250, but they lost five wickets in a devastating 20-ball spell.

Charles Perchard was last man out in the final over of the innings, after hitting 34 to help take Jersey to 224 and give them some momentum going into Singapore's run-chase.

Early wickets from Perchard, Anthony Kay and Corne Bodenstein reduced the hosts to 56-4 but Kumarage (112*) and Kshitij Baliram Shinde (79) steadied the ship and went on to steer their team to victory and a place in World League Three.

Malaysia are also promoted and face Singapore in the final.

Oman are relegated to World League Five along with Jersey and those two sides meet on Saturday in the fifth/sixth place play-off match.