Guernsey opener Matt Oliver steadies himself to hit a short ball in his 34 at the top of the order. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0844000)

THE Guernsey cricket team wrapped up an excellent summer with a brilliant win over the PCA Masters at the KGV on Saturday.

This season has seen the Greens get promoted from Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division Seven and then maintain their place in Division Six in the stifling humidity of Singapore two weeks ago.

They also had a stunning victory over Jersey in the inter-insular at the start of August.

And then in their last outing of the year against a PCA Masters side that was littered with former Test stars such as Graeme Hick, Ian Harvey, Grant Flower, Lou Vincent and Phil DeFreitas, they came away from the Twenty20 game with an eight-wicket win.

‘It was a good way to finish,’ said Lee Savident, who captained Guernsey on the day.

‘Even though it was a friendly, it was good for the guys to get the belief that they can play against guys at that level. They batted against a higher class of bowlers and bowled against players who will hit the ball in areas that they aren’t used to.’

After winning the toss, the PCA decided to bat on a KGV wicket that at this time of year was always never going to be hard and bouncy.

The professionals reached 170 mainly thanks to former Zimbabwean Test star Flower, who is also the younger brother of England coach Andy.