Guernsey have secured promotion to World Cricket League Division 5 after recording a win in today's Division 6 semi-final in Essex.
After topping group A, they came up against Norway - a team that has never beaten them - in the semi-final, played at Ashlyns Road, Frinton-on-Sea. Guernsey captain Jamie Nussbaumer won the toss and chose to bat first.
His team found batting harder going than they had done previously in the tournament, with most players unable to get anything like a start as the Norwegian bowlers bowled economically throughout the innings. Lucas Barker was dismissed for 2 in the opening over, and the score proceeded at a slow pace from there.
There was no significant partnership until Daniel Hooper and Ben Ferbrache put on 58 for the sixth wicket, the partnership ending when Hooper - who top scored with 37 - became the third victim for Damon Crawford.
With the score on 164-6 after 45 overs, Guernsey would have perhaps been hoping for some late innings hitting to get them up over 200. But they contrived to lose their last four wickets for just nine runs as they were bowled out for 173. Raza Iqbal joined Crawford in taking three wickets.
Norway's reply got off to a poor start with both openers out cheaply in the first two overs. Suhail Iftikhar set about rebuilding their run chase, but he was but one man, and needed someone to stay with him.
After the seventh wicket fell with the score on 95, Shehraz Khalid stayed in with Iftikhar for some time. The pair put on 42 together, but once Iftikhar was out for 71, the writing was on the wall for Norway. The last two wickets offered little resistance and Norway were bowled out for 151, losing by 22 runs.
Guernsey now play Suriname in Sunday's semi-final. Both teams will feel that the main job of gaining promotion to WCL Division 5 has been achieved, but will no doubt wish to end the tournament on a high with a win.