Jersey and Kuwait have completed their first step on the road to an ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 qualification, finishing in the top two spots in their Challenge League A group.
The pair locked in their spots in the final leg of the competition in Kenya, with Jersey completing a strong 15-match campaign, losing just two of 15 matches to finish five points ahead of Kuwait at the top of the table.
Kuwait had to wait a little longer to secure the second spot though, between a strong finish at the backend of the campaign and dropped points by the chasing pack, they found safety in relatively easy fashion.
The Kuwaitis finished seven points and over three wins better than the next best chaser in Denmark, who dropped crucial points in defeats to Kenya and Papua New Guinea in the final leg.
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Thanks to their top two finish in their group, the pair move on to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Play-off later this year, an eight-team tournament including the top two teams from the Challenge League B group (Italy and Uganda), and the bottom four finishers from Cricket World Cup League 2, the competition above the Challenge League on the 50-over pyramid.
The tournament will determine the final four spots of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier, and carries One Day International status, meaning Kuwait will play their first-ever ODIs at the tournament. Jersey played five ODIs in the equivalent competition in the last cycle back in 2023, winning one match over Papua New Guinea.
Canada, Nepal and the United Arab Emirates have finished in the bottom four in League 2 and will also take part in the Play-off, with Oman, currently in fourth, the only team that could mathematically be overtaken by Namibia, who is currently fifth.
The League 2 competition cycle ends on Wednesday, with Oman needing to at least avoid a heavy defeat to United Arab Emirates to finish fourth, consigning Namibia to the Play-off.
USA, Scotland, and the Netherlands are guaranteed a top-four finish in League 2 and automatically progress to the Cricket World Cup Qualifier.
Kuwait v Jersey | Match Highlights | ICC CWC Challenge League A 2024-2026
Watch all the match highlights as Kuwait take on Jersey at the ICC CWC Challenge League A 2024-2026
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