JERSEY’s ‘hunger to improve’ has kept their hopes of claiming One Day International status alive.
The Caesareans’ do-or-die CWC Qualifier Play-off victory over Papua New Guinea came with the breaking of an international record that had stood for 20 years, highlighting the effort required to edge past the Oceanic outfit by just 11 runs.
Josh Lawrenson and Asa Tribe’s 232-run partnership is now the highest ever recorded for an associate cricket team in men’s ODI history, surpassing the 228 scored by the Netherlands’ Feiko Kloppenburg and Klaas-Jan van Noortwijk in the 2003 World Cup.
However, Jersey’s job in Namibia is far from done. Results elsewhere over the weekend – including a win for United Arab Emirates over the hosts yesterday – mean captain Chuggy Perchard is now relying on Canada failing to win both of their remaining games. If they do, Jersey must win both of theirs too, and significantly improve their net run rate.
They meet USA tomorrow and UAE on Wednesday.
The top two sides out of Jersey, UAE, Canada and Papua New Guinea will earn ODI status from 2024-27.
Perchard, said: ‘It [the PNG win] was huge. The game really was “do or die” for us. We needed a win to keep our ODI hopes alive and we really did deliver on that.
‘Given the circumstances I was so impressed at how we delivered. Particularly the younger lads in Josh [Lawrenson] and Asa [Tribe] with their centuries.’
Lawrenson, on 222 runs, was the second highest scorer across the tournament at the halfway stage, with three stand-out batting efforts across as many games.
Along with a stout batting performance, the Islanders benefitted from some notable contributions with the ball.
Perchard took two wickets for just 43 runs in his ten overs, as Harrison Carlyon, Elliot Miles and Julius Sumerauer also claimed two batsmen each.
‘Again with the ball, the younger lads stepped up,’ said the captain.
‘Harrison and Julius came up big at the right times, which was great to see. We have been an improving side for several years in succession, so now that we have a taste of ODI life, there is a burning desire to not give that up.
‘There was never a doubt that we didn’t belong at this level. We really should have beaten Canada, so to finish off the task against Papua New Guinea was vital to give us hope into the back end of the tournament.’
