Austria have got their ICC Europe Division One campaign off to a good start with a close fought match against Gibraltar at Port Soif in Guernsey today.

Gibraltar captain Iain Latin won the toss and put Austria into bat. It was looking like a good decision when both openers were removed with the score on just four. Benjamin Loader showed some resistance in the Austrian upper order with 23 from 25 balls, but in general the wickets were falling regularly and it looked like Austria were going to struggle to set a good total.

That changed later on though with a good partnership of 55 for the ninth wicket between Imran Asif and Nandeep Soggi, which ended when Soggi was out for 28 from 26 balls.

Imran Asif stayed in, reaching 35 from 22 balls, including the only six of the innings, and he was the last man out from the first ball of the last over, Austria having scored 141. Aaron Baglietto was the pick of the bowlers with 3-12.

Gibraltar's innings got off to the worst possible start when Ross Harkins was out from the first ball. Ferrary was run out soon afterwards, before a 66 run partnership between Ian Farrell and Mark Bacarese recovered the innings, swinging the game back Gibraltar's way.

Farrell was out having scored a run a ball 24, and Bacarese stayed in, scoring at a decent rate, also hitting two big sixes in his 60 ball innings of 66.

He needed someone to stay with him though, and the wickets at the other end fell regularly. Jack Luman tried, and he hit some good shots towards the end of the innings. Some good Austrian fielding stopped any boundaries though, and Austria won by six runs.