World Cricket League Four: Jersey lose second game against Denmark in Los Angeles

Jersey captain Peter Gough helped the island side put on 54 for the opening wicket

Jersey face a struggle to keep their place in World League Four after a six-wicket loss to Denmark in Los Angeles.

The island side began well but a flurry of wickets saw them bowled out for 158 in 36.4 of their allotted 40 overs, after rain reduced the day's play.

Peter Gough (30) and Nat Watkins (22) put on 54 for the first wicket, while Anthony Hawkins-Kay scored 35.

But in reply Denmark's Saif Ahmad's well-paced 67 not out took the Danes to victory with 7.5 overs to spare.

It was a second defeat from as many games in Los Angeles for Jersey, who won World Cricket League Five earlier this year, following Saturday's opening loss to Oman.

"It's frustrating because we had ambitions for what we wanted to achieve," Jersey captain Peter Gough told BBC Radio Jersey.

"It's a good learning thing for us because we just need to get a little bit better in a couple of areas. These two games have reminded us just what's required."

Rain meant a 30-minute delay to the start of play, and when it began Gough faced just two deliveries from former England Test bowler Amjad Khan, before rain saw the covers on again and the game reduced to 40-overs-a-side.

Gough and fellow opener Nat Watkins gave Jersey a decent start before both fell to the left-arm spin of Bashir Shah.

Jersey's innings stumbled against Danish spin, with Luke Gallichan and then Jake Dunford going in quick succession, as four wickets fell for just 13 runs, leaving them on 87-5.

The wicket of Jonty Jenner, Shah's fourth of the game and third lbw, brought big-hitters Corey Bisson and Anthony Hawkins-Kay to the crease.

But the pair, who added 104 against Oman the day before, could not match their previous effort - Bisson was caught at long-on for a brisk 27, and later Kay went for 35.

Kay's wicket, and then Ben Kynman's the following ball, brought the innings to a close for 158, with more than three overs still left to bat.

In reply, Jersey got off to a good start as Hawkins-Kay had the former Warwickshire and Derbyshire batsman Freddie Klokker caught at third man.

But after removing fellow opener Aftab Ahmed for 29, the island side struggled as Ahmad and Hamid Shah guided them past 100 - the pair put on 83 before Shah was caught behind off Ben Kynman, the second of his three victims.

Despite losing Shah for 41, Denmark were in control of the run chase with Ahmad continuing to an unbeaten 67, taking Denmark to victory in the 33rd over.

In Sunday's other matches, hosts USA beat Italy in a dramatic one-wicket win, while Oman overcame Bermuda by four wickets.

Three sides - USA, Oman, and Denmark - have won all of their games, while Jersey, Italy and Bermuda remain winless.

On both previous occasions Jersey have reached this level of the World Cricket League structure, they have been relegated straight back down to Division Five.

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