JERSEY CRICKET have comprehensively made it seven wins in a row as they attempt to qualify for the World Cup.
They have continued their unbeaten run from the five-leg round in Uganda back on home soil.
Their blistering form has propelled them into second place of the CWC Challenge League Group B, trailing today’s opponents Hong Kong by a single point.
The Islanders bettered the league leaders in the last round in a contentious affair that saw the Asian side lodge a complaint to the ICC regarding the conduct of Jersey.
The cricketing body promptly dismissed the accusations, but the bitter taste remains – the clash at Farmers will have some added bite.
Neil MacRae’s men were highly disciplined as they dismantled a feeble Bermuda side at Grainville on Monday.
After setting a mammoth 381 batting first, the locals restricted their opponents to just 175/9 off their allocated 50 overs to claim a 206-run victory.
The coach said: ‘The game against Bermuda offered our batters plenty of time at the crease.
‘Grainville isn’t an easy place to score so the performance from the top five in the order was top quality.
‘Tomorrow is massive for us. The Group B games started back in 2019 and it provides an opportunity for us to top the table for the first time during the three years.
‘Hong Kong are a great outfit, but we are at home and the support will provide the players with a huge advantage, as it did during the final stages of the game against Uganda.
‘The whole squad are excited and raring for the opportunity to get to the top of the table.’
One of the key traits that his side have displayed over the course of 2022 is their hustle in the field.
The squad as a whole is young and with that comes increased fitness in the outfield to help stifle the opposition.
MacRae said: ‘We have a young, dynamic fielding side that work incredibly hard to save runs.
‘It is that sort of effort and work ethic that will be crucial against Hong Kong.
‘Every run matters when you come down to the end of the game and I am very proud of the way they have communicated and worked together as a team in the field, to get the most of each other.
As expected Farmers has proved a batting haven, with the flat surface yielding plenty of opportunities for high totals.
This Jersey side will be suited by such a wicket, with a team that has shown they can score throughout the order.
Dom Blampied and Julius Sumerauer combined towards the bottom end for a match-winning innings against Uganda, while the top four have displayed a masterclass in laying the foundations for the rest of the team.
All eyes turn to Farmers today for the titanic clash, that looks sure to go right down to the wire.
Elsewhere, Uganda, who sit level on points with Jersey in third place, face Kenya at Grainville [11am] – who are fresh off the back of a solid win over Italy.
