Scotland out of T20 WC qualification by last-ball loss to Jersey
Scotland’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup were dashed in heartbreaking fashion as they suffered a last-ball defeat to Jersey in the European Qualifier. The loss, coupled with their earlier defeat to Italy, means that Scotland will not be featuring in the global tournament for the first time since 2017.
The match between Scotland and Jersey was a thrilling encounter that went down to the wire. Scotland, who needed to win to stay in the qualification hunt, were struggling at 64-5 in the 12th over before a late surge from Michael Leask (37 off 24 balls) and Mark Watt (23 off 16 balls) helped them post a respectable total of 146-9.
Jersey, however, had other plans. Despite losing early wickets, including that of their captain, Charles Perchard (14), the island nation’s batsmen showed great character to chase down the target. Ben Stevens (34) and Dominic Blampied (25) were the main contributors, and their 55-run partnership for the fifth wicket proved to be the turning point in the match.
As the game entered its final overs, Scotland’s hopes of a miracle win seemed slim. But they never gave up, and a stunning over from Leask, which included two sixes and a four, brought them back into the game. Needing 13 runs off the final over, Scotland were favourites to win, but Jersey’s bowlers had other plans.
Ben Kynman, who had been economical throughout the match, bowled a brilliant final over, conceding just 6 runs and taking two wickets, including that of Leask. The last ball of the over, which was a dot ball, sealed Scotland’s fate, and Jersey celebrated their maiden T20 World Cup qualification.
Scotland’s elimination from the tournament means that all eyes will now be on the final match between Italy and Netherlands. A Netherlands win would see them qualify ahead of either Jersey or Italy, while an Italy win would give Jersey a maiden T20 World Cup berth.
The loss is a huge blow to Scotland, who were bidding to make their fifth consecutive T20 World Cup appearance. The team’s coach, Shane McDermott, was left ruing the missed opportunities after the match. “We didn’t take our chances when they were there, and that cost us,” he said. “We need to regroup and focus on the next campaign.”
For Jersey, the win is a dream come true. The island nation has been working towards T20 World Cup qualification for several years, and their players are thrilled to have achieved their goal. “It’s an incredible feeling,” said Jersey’s captain, Charles Perchard. “We’ve worked so hard as a team, and to finally achieve our goal is amazing. We’re all proud of each other.”
The match between Italy and Netherlands will be a crucial one, and both teams will be looking to finish with a win. Italy, who have already eliminated Scotland, will be looking to seal their qualification, while Netherlands will be hoping to take advantage of Scotland’s elimination and make it to the tournament.
In the end, Scotland’s elimination from the T20 World Cup qualification is a bitter pill to swallow, but they will take heart from their performances in the tournament. They will now focus on the next campaign, with an eye on the 2028 T20 World Cup.
