World Twenty20 Qualifier: Jersey ready for United States test
Last updated on .From the section Cricket
Jersey bowler Anthony Kay insists the team have the ability to beat the United States in their World Twenty20 Qualifier in Northern Ireland.
The island's population of 100,000 is 3,200 times smaller than the USA.
But Jersey already have experience of beating them, having won a World Cricket League match between the two sides by 84 runs back in 2008.
"We fully believe that we can beat sides like that and are preparing well," Kay told BBC Radio Jersey.
| Old Jersey v New Jersey |
|---|
| The US state of New Jersey is named after the Channel Island |
| New Jersey was granted as a colony to Jersey-born Sir George Carteret by Charles II in recognition of the island's support of the monarchy during the English Civil War |
Jersey lost by 66 runs to the USA in their last meeting in 2010 during a World Cricket League Division Five tournament in Nepal.
But the USA have lost all three games so far, and the island side are upbeat, having crushed Hong Kong by nine wickets in their opening match before a disappointing 24-run loss to Papua New Guinea on Sunday.
"The euphoria of beating Hong Kong was just brilliant," said Kay, who despite being only 25-years-old, is one of the side's veterans having played for the island for the past seven years.
"I think that was Jersey's finest-ever moment, it's just a shame we couldn't back it up, but hopefully we can perform like we know we can against the USA."
Jersey need to finish fourth in their group to be in with a chance of qualifying for next year's ICC World T20 against the likes of England, Australia and India.
"It's a bit of David versus Goliath, but in cricketing terms we know we can compete hard against them," assistant coach Lee Meloy said.
"The team now are in a position where we feel any team we go up against we can beat.
"We showed in the game against Hong Kong that this isn't a level above us, this is the level we're at, and that with the youngest side in the competition we keep improving."
| ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier: Group A | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Played | Won | Lost | Tied/NR | NRR | Pts | |
| Ireland | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | +2.619 | 6 |
| Papua New Guinea | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +1.200 | 3 |
| Namibia | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | +0.854 | 3 |
| Nepal | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | -1.838 | 3 |
| Jersey | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | -0.084 | 2 |
| Hong Kong | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | -1.235 | 1 |
| USA | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -1.748 | 0 |
