THE top of the table clash in World Cricket League 6 turned into a mostly one-sided encounter as hosts Jersey defeated Nigeria by six wickets; the game lasted only 62 overs.

The best news for Jersey, as well as the win points that left them the only unbeaten team after three rounds of matches, is that Ed Farley top scored with 47 not out, meaning all Jersey's top six batsmen have made at least one major contribution in the tournament. Indeed, they have been so consistent that no-one outside the top six has yet been required to bat.

Jersey skipper Peter Gough lost his first toss of the week but he wasn't unduly worried that Nigeria opted to bat first and an hour before lunch the Africans had been bowled out for 96, by some distance the lowest total of the tournament.

Ben Stevens found rhythm and plenty of turn to leave the Nigeria batsmen bamboozled, and had figures of three for 13 from his 10 overs the most economical of the week. He was well supported by Charles Perchard who conceded just one run more in nine overs.

There were two wickets apiece for Corney Bodenstein, Paul Connolly and Tom Minty and after an early burst of wides - there were 10 in the first 12 overs - only one more was bowled in the remaining 28 overs, another big positive with just two games to go before Sunday's play-off games.

The catching and fielding was also an improvement on the first two games with Perchard taking a fine diving catch at mid-on, before he got a deserved wicket thanks to Andy Dewhurst holding on at backward point, while Gough made three slip catches look very easy.

The Jersey response wasn't entirely straightforward with both openers back in the players' tent by the start of the fourth over. Gough was first to go, pulling lazily to mid-on and Corey Bisson followed four balls later, yorked by Oluseye Olympio. So at seven for two, it was a case of "we have been here before" for Jersey - against Kuwait in the opening match of the tournament - but once again the third wicket stand prevented any immediate scare.

Stevens and Farley still had nine overs to bat before lunch which they negotiated with only one alarm, the latter being put down by the bowler when he drove straight back in the last over. Farley was already outscoring Stevens 17-13 when lunch was taken at 42 for two but the right hander really got into his stride after the break taking three fours and a three off the first four balls of captain Adekunie Adegbola's first over.

He lost Stevens shortly afterwards, bowled by the impressive Saheed Akolade for 19 and the opening bowler also claimed the wicket of Andy Dewhurst in his final over, caught splendidly to his right, one-handed at backward point by Emmanuel Okwudili. It gave Akolade figures of three for 26 from his 10 overs and if he had more consistent support at the other end, the result could have been even closer.

But Farley and Bodenstein saw the job through, a couple of leg byes in what turned out to be the penultimate over ending Farley's chance of getting a half century but he ended the game in style with a glorious extra cover drive off the first ball of the 23rd over and send the team in great heart into the fourth of their five round-robin games, against Argentina at Grainville tomorrow.

Nigeria let themselves down with the bat, but if they get back on track with a win against Bahrain tomorrow then they could be meeting Jersey again, in the final on Sunday.