Lawrenson stars as Jersey beat Kuwait by 123 runs

Josh LawrensonImage source, ICC
Image caption,

Player of the match Josh Lawrenson has played in all four of Jersey's matches in Kenya

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An exceptional performance by Jersey's bowlers gave them a 123-run win over Kuwait in ICC Challenge League A in Kenya.

Asa and Zak Tribe's third-wicket century partnership helped Jersey to 139-3, but the islanders' middle and lower order struggled to cope with the Kuwaiti spinners as they slumped to 170-7.

Jake Dunford hit 24 not out as Jersey ended on 219 all out off 49.1 overs at the Nairobi Gymkhana Club.

But in reply, Kuwait, who had won all three of their games so far, could only manage 96 all out off 27 overs as Josh Lawrenson took 5-29.

The win moves Jersey clear at the top of ICC Challenge League A after three wins from four matches - they face Denmark in their final game on Saturday.

Image source, ICC
Image caption,

Julius Sumerauer (left) and Josh Lawrenson have taken 11 wickets between them in ICC Challenge League A

Having been reduced to 38-2 off 11 overs as opener Harrison Carlyon went for 11 and Josh Lawrenson for 17, the Tribe brothers steadied the innings.

Zak - who made his maiden Jersey century in last week's win over Qatar - recorded a half-century off 51 balls before he was undone by the spin of Meet Bhavsar for a 57-ball 57 which included a six and seven fours.

He and Glamorgan's Asa, playing for the first time in the tournament after the conclusion of the County Championship season, put on 101 for the third wicket.

Soon after, Jonty Jenner was caught off Bhavsar without scoring to leave Jersey on 141-4 off 31.3 overs and, three overs later, Asa was caught at long off from Yasin Patel's bowling for 53 off 89 balls as the islanders fell to 147-5.

Charlie Brennan was caught and bowled for nine by Patel as he ended on 3-16 before Bhavsar (3-38) trapped Patrick Gouge leg before for 12 to leave Jersey on 170-7 with eight overs to go.

Dunford and Julius Sumerauer put on a much-needed 38-run stand for the eighth wicket before the latter was out lbw for 19 to leave Jersey 208-8 and they added just 11 more runs from there.

Jersey's bowlers were excellent from the outset - Sumerauer bowled Meet Bhavsar with the very first ball of the innings as he and Carlyon split the top five batters' wickets between them.

Carlyon ended on figures of 3-21 and Sumerauer 2-29 as Kuwait slumped to 23-5 inside the first six overs.

But it was Lawrenson's spin bowling that decimated the bottom half of the Kuwaiti batting order as he claimed skipper Mohammed Aslam (19), Yasin Patel (16) and Shiraz Khan (12).

Number 10 Sayed Monib scored 14 off 27 balls as the final wicket pairing put on a stubborn 18-run stand, but when he was trapped by Lawrenson the game was over as the 21-year-old claimed his first five-wicket international haul.

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