Jersey thrash Guernsey to retain inter-island T20 title

Jersey beat Guernsey twice to retain their inter-island T20 title on Sunday.

The hosts cruised to two 100-run victories at Grainville to collect their fifth consecutive title in a run stretching back to 2022.

In the opening game Analise Merritt scored 52 while Erin Duffy hit 21 not out as Jersey made 160-7.

In reply the hosts bowled their rivals out for just 60 in 17.5 overs - Elise Millington (19) was the only Guernsey batter to make double figures as Jersey skipper Chloe Greechan took 3-6.

In the second game Aimee Aikenhead hit a high score of 85 off 64 balls while Merritt scored 50 as the pair put on a 133-run second-wicket stand as Jersey went on to make 188-5.

In reply Guernsey ended their 20 overs on 88-7 as Katie Robert made 18 not out while openers Molly Robinson (17) and Francesca Bulpitt (10) had an opening partnership of 29.

Medium pacer Olivia Bastin had figures of 3-13 as no other Guernsey batters made it into double figures.

"It's a great start to the season with two wins over Guernsey on your home turf in front of friends and family," Greechan told BBC Radio Jersey.

"It's always nice to get the win let alone put out that sort of dominant performance."

Ilze van der Westhuizen, Guernsey women's head coach added: "It was a good game to see where we need to improve, so that's how we approached the game.

"We wanted to see what the difference in skill level is, where we can improve ourselves and so that was a good start for us.

"We are probably about five to eight years behind them if you look at skill and pathway systems, so as soon as we get that gap a little bit smaller in the next three to five years then we'll be in a much better place to be able to compete competitively.