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Having come painfully close to T20 World Cup qualification in July, Jersey are chasing history again after taking another step towards the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
At the end of the latest round of the World Cup Challenge League, the Channel Islanders are inside the top two qualifying spots by seven points after an eight-wicket victory over Qatar in Saint Saviour.
Should they finish in the top two, they will advance to an eight-team qualifier play-off and potential final qualifier involving 10 teams to reach the World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
“To roll them for 132 after they’d won the toss was a great effort on a really flat pitch,” captain Charles Perchard told BBC Jersey.
Perchard praised an “absolutely outstanding” performance by fast bowlers George Richardson and Julius Sumerauer alongside spinner Josh Lawrenson’s 4-25.
“Our spin attack were right on the money for the whole week, making it really difficult for them to score,” Perchard added.
“The batters were brutal, clinical, ruthless, which is what we talk about as a group. They knocked it off in double-quick time, which was a top effort.
“We’re in a great spot. We can’t afford to be complacent and we need to keep moving forward.”
‘The sky is the limit’
The Challenge League campaign, which concludes in 2026, features five matches in each round, with Jersey also beating Kenya by seven wickets, Denmark by 89 runs and Papua New Guinea by 160 runs, as well as sharing a tie with Kuwait.
Hosting the round, seven of Jersey’s starting side against Qatar were under 26, including 20-year-old Richardson and 21-year-old Asa Tribe, who scored 53 off 40 balls.
“The talent levels are through the roof and the desire is great to see,” added Perchard, who was their oldest player involved by two years at the age of 33.
“These young lads bring in so much energy. They’re always asking questions and trying to get better.
“The sky is the limit for the guys. I’ve got so much confidence that this team are going to achieve something special.
“Without a shadow of a doubt, the talent level is within this group to qualify for a World Cup and achieve something truly remarkable.”
A debutant in 2010, Perchard is part of a team who have consistently overachieved since the island of around 100,000 became International Cricket Council (ICC) associate members in 2007.
“It’s changed a lot,” said the veteran known by the nickname ‘Chuggy’. “We’re a lot more well-versed and well-travelled.
“We understand conditions and experiences a whole lot better. The professionalism’s gone through the roof and the training intensity has risen.
“Some of these sides we’re playing against have more registered cricketers in their country than there are people in Jersey. The level we’re consistently playing at is amazing.
“We’re not just team-mates – we’re mates as well. The group has grown up together and trained two or three times a week.
“One of the beauties of being part of a small nation is you really have to work hard for each other.”
ICCThe pride of Jer Lions
In July, the Jer Lions secured a significant scalp by beating Scotland with a final-ball one-wicket victory in the T20 World Cup deciders, only to narrowly miss out.
The part-timers had needed the last fixture of the European Qualifier to go in their favour but a big win for the Netherlands against Italy meant they dropped from second place to third on net run-rate.
Perchard had called the prospect of qualifying “potentially life-defining for some of our guys” before Italy and the Netherlands progressed.
“It still hurts a little bit, but that’s only extra fire in the belly for this group,” reflected Perchard.
“The pride and passion we have is different to some of the other countries. It’s a really tight group and the boys are always desperate to work hard for each other.
“I can guarantee we’re going to keep working hard over the winter and into next summer.
“It’s not just about finishing in the top two. We’ll be disappointed if we don’t win four or five games in the next round.”
