In one of the most dramatic finishes in European cricket, Jersey pulled off a stunning one-wicket win over Scotland in their final ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Europe Qualifier match in The Hague. This victory not only gave them their first-ever win against Scotland, but also kept them in the hunt for a historic T20 World Cup debut.
🏏 Match Summary:
Scotland: 133/7 (Matthew Cross 43*, Mark Watt 28; Harrison Carlyon 3/26, Ben Ward 2/24)
Jersey: 134/9 (Ben Greenwood 49)
Result: Jersey won by 1 wicket (final ball)
🔥 Jersey Hold Their Nerve in a Nail-Biter
With the pressure mounting and World Cup dreams on the line, Jersey delivered when it mattered the most. Chasing 134, they got off to a solid start thanks to Ben Greenwood, who top-scored with a gutsy 49. However, things got nervy as Scotland’s bowlers triggered a collapse, and Jersey slumped to 134/9.
Needing 1 run off the last ball, Jake Dunford and Charles Perchard held their nerve as Dunford scrambled the winning single, sealing the deal and sending the Jersey camp into wild celebrations.
🗣️ Captain Perchard: “Potentially Life-Defining Moment”
Jersey captain Charles Perchard reflected on the emotional victory, saying:
“Years of graft and hard work and some real disappointments all led up to this moment and we’re delighted. We’ve never beaten a side as good as Scotland before… but we got over the line in the end.”
🧮 Qualification Scenario
Jersey’s hopes of qualifying for the T20 World Cup 2026 in India and Sri Lanka now depend on the outcome of the final Qualifier match:
- ✅ If Italy beats the Netherlands: Jersey qualifies directly as second-place finishers.
- ✅ If the Netherlands wins: Qualification will be decided on net run rate between Netherlands and Jersey.
🇸🇨 Scotland’s Disappointment
For Scotland, this loss is a major blow. The highest-ranked side in the tournament will now miss their fifth straight T20 World Cup. Their campaign was marred by a loss to Italy and a washed-out game against Guernsey.
Scottish skipper Richie Berrington admitted his team was off the mark:
“Unfortunately, we were slightly off and couldn’t quite get over the line. Credit to Jersey – they played good cricket throughout the tournament.”
📸 Key Moments
- Ben Greenwood’s 49 set the platform for Jersey’s chase.
- Harrison Carlyon’s 3 wickets rocked Scotland early.
- Ben Ward’s late six gave Jersey a much-needed push.
- Dunford’s last-ball single sealed a historic win.
✅ What This Means
This is more than just a win for Jersey – it’s a breakthrough on the European cricket stage. They’ve shown they can compete with top-tier teams and are now just one result away from a World Cup debut.