Jersey kept alive their promotion hopes, holding their nerve to beat the hosts by ten runs in yet another rain-affected encounter in Malaysia.

A fine batting display saw the Channel Islanders post 270 for 8, with the top order once again getting a solid platform.

Peter Gough made 23 in an opening stand of 55 with the ever dependable Nat Watkins, who once among top scored.

Watkins hit 6 fours and cleared the ropes once in his 79 from 102 balls, adding 87 with Ben Stevens, who hit 3 sixes in his breezy 47.

The momentum was kept going thanks to a run-a-ball 52 from Nic Ferraby (3 fours, 1 six), who added 53 in 44 balls with Jonty Jenner (28), while there was an entertaining cameo from Harry Carlyon (18*).

Malaysia started their reply in similar fashion as Virendeep Singh (83) and Ahmed Faiz (47) took them to 116 for 1 in 27 overs. The by now ubiquitous afternoon deluge cleared quickly and the hosts target was now 232 in 47 overs.

Corne Bodenstein (3-23) proved the Jersey hero in a tense passage of play, and credit as well to skipper Chuggy Perchard who rotated his attack well.

Malaysia finished on 221 for 7, and they will need results to go their way on Saturday if they are to keep their title hopes alive.

Elsewhere, Vanuatu recorded their first win with a four wicket win over Bermuda, as player-coach Shane Deitz hit an unbeaten 71 to steer his team to victory chasing 181.