Jersey Top ICC Challenge League B

JERSEY coach Neil MacRae has commended an ‘astonishing effort’ by his players after they secured a place in the penultimate round of qualifying for the 2023 World Cup.

The Islanders were beaten in their final ICC Challenge League B game yesterday but had already boosted their net run rate enough to top the standings and see off Uganda.

The title means they will progress to the World Cup play-off next year, alongside the winners of Challenge League A and four sides ranked between 14th-20th on the global 50-over standings. Jersey claimed nine wins in a row across the summer period, including four on home soil last week.

‘I have an overwhelming sense of pride in all of these guys,’ said MacRae yesterday, following defeat to Kenya. ‘It has been a long summer of cricket, so to win nine games in a row this year in Group B is an astonishing effort. ‘We have really called on everyone during the course of this summer and the entire group has had to step up at different times. As a group we are incredibly strong and that really helps when you need everyone to pull together.

‘We were probably 30-40 runs short of a decent target and credit to the Kenyan batter [Irfan Karim], who was disciplined in his efforts to stay in and grab the key runs.

‘The game against Italy [on Saturday] was vital and took a lot out of the players in the heat. We are so grateful for all the supporters who came out to cheer us on.

‘After spending most of the summer away from home, to feel that backing we have from the locals was huge.’