The USA cricket team secured a place at the final qualifying tournament for this year's Cricket World Cup in India with a tense 25-run win over Jersey on Tuesday. The Americans, who have never qualified for the main tournament, wrapped up a top-two finish in the Qualifier Play-off event in Namibia with their fourth win from five matches. The USA cricket team have only previously qualified for a global ICC event once in the 2004 Champions Trophy where they went out in the first round.
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USA Cricket Team vs Jersey:
The United States only managed to score just 231 in their 50 overs after batting first. Jersey picked up wickets at regular intervals, but opener Steven Taylor held one end strong & built crucial partnerships with Saiteja Mukkamalla (54-run stand) and Gajanand Singh (69).
Nisarg Patel and Jessy Singh made vital contributions lower down the order to push USA to a substantial total. Benjamin Ward was the key bowler, breaking the back of the USA batting line-up by taking four wickets.
In reply, Jersey's chase never took off as Ali Khan broke through the top and middle-order with a five-wicket haul inside the first six overs. Asa Tribe and Jonty Jenner went on the defensive to stop USA's bowling attack but already lost half their side with just 17 runs on board.
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Image: Dreamcricket
Tribe put together a brilliant partnership of 97 runs with Benjamin Ward, which gave Jersey hopes of mounting an unlikely comeback. Eventually, the duo fell within a span of four overs as the USA wrested control. At 168/8, Jersey were down and out but there was yet another twist in the tale as Julius Sumerauer and Charles Perchard took the attack to the USA and showed their team a glimpse of hope. However, those hopes were dashed as Ali Khan returned and picked up two wickets to finish with figures of 7/32.
The win, alongside Namibia's victory over Canada, ensured that USA cricket team finished in the top two and as a result, sealed the spot in the 2023 Cricket World Cup Qualifier.