Italy stunned previously-unbeaten Scotland A on the third day of the European Division 1 Championship in Jersey on Friday, pulling off a narrow 7-run victory in a rain-affected match at Farmer’s Field.

The Scottish defeat left hosts Jersey in pole position to win the tournament, since they were much too strong for Netherlands A in their game at FB Fields, while Ireland A bounced back from their defeat by Jersey on Wednesday by cruising to a comfortable victory over Denmark at Grainville.

The foundation of the Italian victory was a second-wicket partnership of 134 between Andy Northcote (72) and Damian Fernando (62), and after their departure, both falling to seamer Stuart Chalmers, skipper Hemantha Jayasena hit a rapid, 33-ball 47 not out to see his side to an imposing 249 for seven.
Sean Weeraratna picked up three wickets in the closing stages at a final cost of 47, while Chalmers and Ali Evans collected two apiece.

Rain delayed the start of the Scottish reply, and with the match reduced to 47 overs their target was adjusted to 244. They were well placed at 124 for two in the 27th over, Ewan Chalmers (57) and Qasim Sheikh (38) having given them a solid platform, but as the Scots attempted to accelerate wickets began to fall.

Jan Stander and Willie Rowan kept their hopes alive, and at 217 for five they were again well placed. But then Gayashan Munasinghe returned to the attack to remove both of them, and in the end the target proved just too great.

Smarting from their defeat by Jersey, Ireland prospered after being put in by Denmark, and compiled a massive 334 for six. Reinhardt Strydom and Niall McDonnell got the innings off to a storming start, and after Strydom departed for a blistering 32-ball 46, McDonnell and James Hall consolidated as they added 76 for the second wicket.

McDonnell eventually fell for 60, but then James Shannon took over, making an unbeaten 84 off 77 deliveries and sharing crucial partnerships with Stuart Thompson (36) and Andrew Balbirnie (35).

This match, too, was cut by three overs because of the rain, and the Danes were set 323 to make from 47 overs. Although Freddie Klokker made 36 and Michael Pedersen 62 they were never really in the hunt, and the Irish spin trio of Albert van der Merwe, Andrew Balbirnie and Gary Kidd took eight wickets between them as Denmark were dismissed for 184.

Van der Merwe had the best figures with four for 44, while Balbirnie took three for 31.

Jersey, meanwhile, continued their winning form with a 77-run win over Netherlands A. Their total of 236 for eight may have been the lowest first-innings score of the day, but it was more than enough to account for the relatively inexperienced Dutch.

After Matty Hague and Dean Morrison gave the hosts a good start, skipper Peter Gough was the mainstay of the middle order with 57 off 58 deliveries, and he was well supported by Chris Jones (36) and Sam de la Haye (31).

Netherlands A reached 13 without loss before a break for rain, but immediately after the interval both openers fell without addition to the score, and the Dutch innings was in danger of disintegration.

They were partially rescued by a stand of 63 between Adeel Raja (35) and Tim Gruijters (36), but Hague and Ben Stevens bowled steadily to restrict the scoring rate in the middle overs, and once Stevens had removed both batsmen it was only a matter of time.

Tom de Grooth and Tom Heggelman resisted for a while, but when Ryan Driver returned to take three wickets in one over any challenge was effectively ended. The innings closed on 159, with Driver taking four for 26 and two wickets each for Jones, Stevens and Tom Minty.