Guernsey gave the touring Kenyans several scares in a highly-impressive performance on Thursday at Hove. Although them 2003 World Cup semi-finalists got hom comfortably by 72 runs in the end, they had to fight hard after being restricted to just 194 in their allotted 50 overs.

Guernsey skipper Stuart Le Prevost won the toss and inserted the Kenyans on a beautiful day at Hove. His opening bowlers Blane Queripel and Lee Savident bowled quite superbly and with great discipline and within the hour the Kenyans were in disarray at 51 for 4. Queripel was rewarded with three wickets including the prize wickets of Steve Tikolo (4) and Collins Obuya (1) in a straight 10-over spell of 3 for 47. In fact the Kenyans were five down for just 72 before a key partnership of 64 between Thomas Odoyo (61) and Jimmy Kamande (23) dug them out of the whole. Once that partnership was broken by Jeremy Frith trapping Kamande in front, Guernsey maintained their line and length and exceptionally high fielding standards to restrict Kenya to 194 for 9 in their 50 overs. It is unlikely that Guernsey have ever previously put in such a flawless performance in the field against any opposition and they certainly raised their game and set new standards against the Kenyans.

The Guernsey innings got off to a disastrous start as Peter Ongondo ripped out Lee Savident (1), Matt Oliver (9) and Tim Ravenscroft (0), and it was left to Jeremy Frith and GH Smit to stabliise the ship. Smit lost his patience after some hard graft to sky Varaiya into the covers and Frith was unlucky to play on to Migai when attempting a pull after getting to 16. With Kris Moherndl then getting a beauty from Elijah Asoyo things were looking dire at 40 for 6. However Le Prevost was then joined by Jamie Nussbaumer and the pair doubled the score with a partnership of 43. Nussbaumer had just swept Varaiya for a huge six over the stand when he was bowled by Tikolo for 18 trying to repeat the feat, and although Le Prevost played his way to a very fine half-century he fell soon afterwards for 52 as Guernsey were all out for 122 in 44.4 overs. Peter Ongondo was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 23 from 7 overs from the sea end, while Tikolo (2 for 21 from 8 overs) and Varaiya (2 for 31 from 7.4 overs) were the other main wicket-takers.

Guernsey will take great encouragement from such a performance ahead of the European Division 2 tournament next month and will look to maintain these standards in the two remaining tour games today (v Sussex CCC Academy at Hove) and on Sunday (v Sussex Premier League XI at Chichester).