Meanwhile, at Kinrara Oval, Jersey took on local Channel Island rivals Guernsey in the sides' hotly anticipated first round game. Stuart Le Prevost's side won the toss and elected to bat against Peter Gough's bowling attack

Guernsey's star all-rounder Jeremy Frith made his intentions for the tournament clear after the 33-year-old smashed his way to 80 runs to be the cornerstone of the side's innings. Frith departed after being caught by Jersey's Ben Stevens off the bowling of Gough.

Ross Kneller ably assisted Frith for some time, with the 28-year-old right-hander hitting a half-century all of which helped add runs to the board, while after their departure Le Prevost and David Hooper added important runs. Jersey's bowlers shared the spoils with captain Gough the pick of the bowlers with 2-11.

Setting Jersey a target of 252 the men in red made light of the target, knocking off some 131 runs before losing it lost its first batsman, Dean Morrison run out on 59. After a brief interval for a passing rain-shower, the teams returned to the field and Ben Stevens departed without a run to his name after being bowled by Jamie Nussbaumer.

Nussbaumer then dismissed in-form batsman Ed Farley who dragged the ball onto his stumps to depart for 64 while a thunderstorm took control over Kinrara as play continued in the suburb of Kuala Lumpur. Corey Bisson added a hard-fought 29 but Jersey captain Gough managed just 17 runs.

As thunder and lightning struck around the ground and the rain clouds converged, Jersey began to lose wickets and at six down in the 44th over, it was beginning to look like the game may stop between the two Channel Islands due to possible downpours.

Some poor bowling from Stuart Bisson, who managed to let 19 runs go on the 44th over after meant the Jersey side were well ahead on D/L even though the match was continuing under grey clouds.

Some poor bowling by the Guernsey side saw Jersey take full advantage, but the side tightened up and with two overs left and Jersey needing 14 runs to win and one wicket in hand it was looking to be a close finish. Jersey required 10 runs off the final over, which was to be bowled by Tim Ravenscroft, were to be denied after James Faudemer was bowled with Ravenscroft's second ball and scoring Guernsey a well deserved victory if a nerve-wracking one.

Jersey's Gough was obviously disappointed after some fine performance in the field: 'Obviously gutted about today with the fact we couldn't score a victory but to keep them down to 250 on such a good batting track.

'I was really pleased with the way our two young lads worked out in the middle - Corey Bisson and Sam de la Haye both worked really hard and now it's about improving for tomorrow.'

Meanwhile Man of the Match, Frith said: 'I think we were 15 to 20 short of runs on the board and then we didn't bowl well to begin with which didn't help us. I am a little disappointed that I didn't make it to a hundred and got us to 270 but we're underway to get the two points.

'Fundamentally today got us two points, Jersey played fantastically and all credit to them they probably deserved to win. It was a tough game out there but it's good to walk away with a win and take the two points.'