How Scotland, Ireland and Jersey fared during T20 World Cup qualifying
Six countries have qualified for the 2020 ICC T20 men’s World Cup to complete the 16-team line-up.
Holland, Ireland, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates will join the big boys in Australia next October and November.
Here, the PA news agency looks at how Ireland, Scotland and Jersey performed at the two-week qualifying tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Ireland
Well done to Ireland Men’s cricket team @IrelandCricket on qualifying for the @T20WorldCup in Australia next year! #BackingGreenpic.twitter.com/hRMQKIcz0f
— Leo Varadkar (@LeoVaradkar) October 28, 2019
Ireland became the second team after Papua New Guinea to qualify directly for the T20 World Cup. Ireland lost to hosts UAE and Canada, but wins over Hong Kong, Oman, Jersey and Nigeria saw them top Group B on net run rate. Paul Stirling (two), Andrew Balbirnie and Gareth Delany all made half-centuries as the runs were shared around. Ireland had to settle for a third place play-off game in Dubai after suffering a 21-run semi-final defeat to Holland.
Scotland
✈️ YESSSS! We’re going to the @T20WorldCup!#FollowScotland 🏴 pic.twitter.com/ApKlalkKua
— Cricket Scotland (@CricketScotland) October 30, 2019
Scotland had to rely on the play-offs to book their fourth appearance at a T20 World Cup. Shane Burger’s side finished fourth in Group A after beating Bermuda, Kenya and Papua New Guinea and losing to Holland, Namibia and Singapore. Scotland secured their place in Australia as captain Kyle Coetzer and George Munsey’s first-wicket partnership provided the bedrock of a 90-run victory against the UAE. Oman were beaten by five wickets in the fifth place play-off.
Jersey
What a few weeks from this group of players and backroom staff.
They may have missed out on @T20WorldCup Qualification but 5 wins out of 8:
🇰🇪 ✅🇸🇬 ✅🇳🇬 ✅🇦🇪 ✅🇴🇲 ✅
No doubt they have done the island proud and gained a lot of fans in the process👏#backingred 🇯🇪 pic.twitter.com/n63ZcMclX8
— Jersey Cricket (@cricketinjersey) October 28, 2019
Jersey won three of their six group games but an inferior net run rate cost them a play-off spot. Jonty Jenner made an unbeaten 57 as Jersey opened with a 69-run victory over Nigeria. Jenner made another half-century in the 53-run defeat to Canada. Jersey beat the UAE (35 runs) and Oman (14 runs) but defeats to Hong Kong (eight runs) and Ireland (eight wickets) left them in sixth spot in Group B. Hong Kong booked a play-off spot with a run rate of +0.480, compared to Jersey’s +0.089.
