Guernsey knocked out of European Cricket Championship

Ollie Nightingale's 43 off 14 balls was the highlight of Guernsey’s loss to France

Guernsey have been knocked out of the European Cricket Championship in the group stages.

Having lost heavily to Scotland and Ireland XI's on Thursday, Guernsey finished bottom of their five-team group with four sides progressing to the knockout stages.

The islanders suffered a 57-run loss to France early on Friday before recovering to beat Portugal in their final game by 15 runs.

It left Guernsey bottom of their group and unable to make the top four.

France scored 162-2 off their 10 overs in Spain as Mustafa Omer scored 87 off just 33 balls.

In reply, Guernsey could only muster 105-9 as Rohullah Mangal claimed a hat-trick in the sixth over.

But despite Ollie Nightingale's 43 off 14 balls, Guernsey were unable to reach their target of 114 to earn a losing bonus point.

Guernsey had begun the game well, restricting France to just 59-1 off six overs.

But Kieran Le Gallez conceded 36 off the seventh over as Mukhtar Ghulami struck four sixes and a four before the French got 22 off the next over off Luke Bichard.

Oliver Clapham went for 20 off the ninth over before Josh Butler went for 25 off the final over as Guernsey conceded 103 off their final four overs.

Omer hit seven sixes in the final four overs before being caught by Alex Bushell off Josh Butler while Ghulami got seven sixes in a 17-ball 53 not out.

In reply, Guernsey lost opener Ben Fitchet early on before Tom Nightingale was caught for 17 at the start of the fifth over while Butler was caught for 11 four balls later to leave Guernsey on 35-3.

It got even worse when Mangal claimed Bichard's wicket for 13 before dismissing Alex Bushell and Adam Martel for ducks in his next two balls as Guernsey were left on 53-6 off six overs.

French spinner Sajad Stanikzay ended with match-leading figures of 3-9 before Ollie Nightingale hit four sixes and four fours, but when he was dismissed midway through the final over Guernsey's hopes of a point vanished.

In their final game in Spain against Portugal Fitchet hit 63 off 25 balls including seven sixes as he and Butler (25) put on 77 for the second wicket.

Bushell went on to score 29 not out as Guernsey ended on 166-4 off their 10 overs.

In reply Portugal’s Jeremy Martins hit a superb 93 not out off 28 balls with 12 sixes.

He and Sharn Gomes (44) had a 116-run second-wicket stand, but Portugal could not match Guernsey‘s run rate as they ended on 151-4.