Kuwait beat Jersey by seven wickets in Challenge League

Jersey lost for just the second time in the ICC Challenge League as they were beaten by Kuwait by seven wickets in Nairobi.

The islanders had already secured the title and progress to the next stage of qualifying for the Cricket World Cup, but the Kuwaitis' win keeps them second in the group with two games to play.

Jersey were bowled out for 224 in 50 overs as the impressive Meet Bhavar took 5-25.

In reply, Kuwait's Clinto Anto hit a superb 113 off 77 balls as they reached their target in 33.4 overs as Jersey lost for the first time in the Challenge League since a six-wicket defeat by Kenya in September 2024.

Having impressed with the bat in their opening two matches, Jersey struggled at times to cope with the Kuwait attack.

They were reduced to 77-4 after 14-and-a-half overs as Harrison Carlyon made 29 but previously free-scoring Jonty Jenner and Zak Tribe were restricted to nine and 15 respectively.

Asa Tribe and Charlie Brennan steadied the innings with a 61-run fifth-wicket partnership before spinner Bhavar began his rampage through the Jersey order.

He bamboozled Glamorgan batter Tribe to bowl him for 33 off 47 balls while Brennan was stumped for 43 off his next over to leave Jersey on 141-6 off 31.2 overs.

Former professional rugby player Scott van Breda - making his 50-over debut for Jersey - hit 40 off 62 balls as he and Jake Dunford put on an important 55-run stand for the eighth wicket before he was caught and bowled by Bhavsar.

The spinner went on to claim Dunford for 19 and George Richardson for a duck with the final ball of the innings.

Kuwait's batters wasted no time in their replay as Anto and Ravija Sandaruwan had a 25-run stand off the first 14 balls before the latter was caught behind by Dunford off George Richardson's bowling.

Anto and Bhavsar continued to smash Jersey's bowlers around the ground - Anto made his 50 off 24 balls as he scored 18 off a single Richardson over.

He was dropped by Jersey skipper Charles Perchard on 74 as he went on to reach his century from 67 deliveries.

Ben Ward finally claimed Anto with the first ball of the 23rd over having hit 13 fours and six sixes in his knock of 113.

Having had a partnership with Anto of 185, Bhavar was trapped lbw in Ward's next over for a 69-ball 44 as Kuwait progressed to 186-3 from 26.1 overs.

The Kuwaitis had no trouble scoring the required overs as they reached 225-3 off 33.4 overs.