Jersey women make impressive start in European Cricket Championship

Jersey have won all four of their opening games in the European Cricket Championship in Spain.

The island’s women, who were delayed by a day because of travel problems caused by Storm Darragh, are top of the 10-overs-a-side event’s Challenger division alongside hosts Spain.

Jersey began with a seven-wicket win over Germany on Tuesday morning before thrashing bottom side the Czech Republic in their second game.

After restricting the Czechs to just 22-6 from their 10 overs as skipper Chloe Greechan took two wickets for just two runs, Jersey needed just 10 balls to reach their target for a 10-wicket win as Aimee Aikenhead hit 16 not out off six balls.

The islanders faced a sterner test on Wednesday morning when they beat Austria by seven wickets.

Batting first, the Austrians were restricted to 69-3 off their 10 overs with all three wickets coming from run-outs.

In reply Trinity Smith hit 21, Aikenhead got 17 and Greechan 16 as Jersey made 71-5 off 8.4 overs.

Their fourth game proved to be their toughest against the hosts, Spain making 75-3 off their 10 overs as openers Alexis Hartley (30) and Naomi Hillman-Bermejo (36) put on 60 for the first wicket.

Jersey opener Analise Merritt hit three sixes as she scored 26 from 10 balls, before Flo Tanguy (nine not out) and Grace Wetherall (15 not out) guided Jersey to 76-3 with seven balls to spare.

The island side play Austria and Germany on Thursday, before matches against Spain and the Czech Republic on Friday, with the top four teams reaching the finals on Saturday.