Spain have celebrated a 2-0 T20I series clean sweep of Jersey, claiming both victories in final-over thrillers in La Manga.
The hosts reached a target of 196 with five wickets in hand and two balls remaining in match one, before a last-gasp one wicket win (and with just one ball remaining) in match two to lock up the series.
Ten places below Jersey on the ICC Men’s T20I Rankings before the series, the victories are a boon for the Spaniards curiously more on the 50-over front, given its weight in determining positions for future spots in Cricket World Cup Challenge League Play-off.
Spain lost the toss in the morning fixture, and Jersey looked ahead early, powering to 89/0 before the spin of Lorne Burns claimed Harrison Carlyon (48 from 29 balls) thanks to a Daniel Doyle Calle catch in the deep.
Zak Tribe joined Patrick Gouge at the crease to keep the run rate around 10 an over, though fell for 23, bowled by Burns for the spinner’s second. Gouge went on to make a match-high 52 (38) before falling to returning opening bowler Atif Mehmood (1/30 off four over), with the experience of Jonty Jenner (43 off 27 balls) helping the tourists to 195.
Spanish debutant Muhammad Babar and mainstay Muhammad Yasin took Carlyon for 22 in the first over, matching Jersey’s early pace with the bat before Babar fell to Julius Sumerauer for a 25-ball 46. A collapse of 3/11 brought Jersey back into proceedings though the work of Muhammad Ihsan (41* from 19 balls), Doyle Calle (46 from 31) and 11* (10) from skipper Christian Munoz Mills ensured the hosts’ victory.
After lunch Jersey elected to bat again in the second fixture, with Gouge again top-scoring for the visitors, making 48 (27). Jenner’s 38 (24) showed fight, though the Spaniards were excellent with the ball, holding Jersey to 141.
Jersey hit back with three-wicket hauls for Daniel Birrell and Zak Tribe, holding the Spanish to 135/8 at the end of the 19th over. Sumerauer claimed the wicket of Atif with the second ball of the over, bringing out No.11 Charlie Rumistrzewicz with Spain still needing six for victory. A shot to cover brought Munoz Mills back on strike, before consecutive boundaries ensured a one-wicket win with a ball to spare.
Jersey will head to Germany in July to compete in Group B of Europe sub-regional qualifying for the 2026 T20 World Cup, whilst the Spaniards head to Guernsey to compete in Group C in August.
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