In brief: Jersey’s cricket team beat Uganda ‘A’ twice in Entebbe, winning the first match by nine wickets and the second by 59 runs. The results set them up nicely ahead of the ICC Challenge League A tournament in Kenya, where two wins will be enough to keep their 2027 Cricket World Cup qualifying hopes alive.
Two Comfortable Wins in Entebbe
Jersey arrived in Uganda looking to sharpen up before the serious business begins in Kenya, and by all accounts they got exactly what they needed. The BBC reports that in the opening warm-up match, Jersey bowled Uganda ‘A’ out for just 118 in 33 overs before knocking off the runs with something to spare, finishing on 121 for 1 off 27 overs to win by nine wickets.
The bowling honours went to Ben Ward, who took 3 for 20, with Josh Lawrenson chipping in with 2 for 17. Lawrenson then demonstrated he is rather handy with the bat too, hitting 52 not out in the chase. Harrison Carlyon led the way with 59 off 78 balls. It was, in short, a thoroughly professional performance.
The second match was a slightly tighter affair, though Jersey still won comfortably by 59 runs. Batting first, they posted 193 for 9 off their 50 overs, with Carlyon again prominent on 49 and Jonty Jenner contributing 44. Ward then produced a remarkable spell with the ball, taking 5 for 17 off 9.3 overs as Uganda ‘A’ were dismissed for 143 all out from 41.3 overs. Toby Britton also chipped in with 2 for 27.
The Road to Kenya and Beyond
With the warm-up matches behind them, Jersey now head to Kenya for the ICC Challenge League A tournament. The BBC reports that Jersey go into the competition as group leaders, and the task ahead is straightforward in theory: win two matches and they progress to the next round of World Cup qualifying.
Their campaign opens on Thursday against third-placed Papua New Guinea, before they face the hosts Kenya on Sunday. Jersey need to finish in the top two to advance to the 2026 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off in Nepal in December, which would keep alive their hopes of reaching the 2027 Cricket World Cup.
For a small island of roughly 100,000 people, Jersey’s continued presence on the international cricket stage is no small achievement. The performances in Entebbe suggest the squad is in good form and good heart ahead of the tournament proper.
Players to Watch
If the Uganda warm-ups are anything to go by, a couple of names will be worth keeping an eye on in Kenya. Harrison Carlyon scored 59 in the first match and 49 in the second, giving him back-to-back substantial contributions at the top of the order. Ben Ward, meanwhile, took three wickets in the first game and five in the second, finishing the two matches with 8 wickets at a combined cost of just 37 runs. That is the kind of form that wins tournaments.
Source: BBC News
