Stokes fit for Euro T20 Championship finale
THE carrot of playing the top associate nations in international cricket at the ICC World Twenty20 Global Qualifier hangs in front of four countries in Jersey today.
The winner of this week's ICC Division One T20 Championship will gain entry to the qualifier, which will be staged in Ireland and Scotland over three weeks in July and the top six teams from that 14-team tournament will book their tickets to India for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20.
Guernsey are among the quartet still in the running for that reward and face another of those sides today when they face the old enemy Jersey at Farmers this morning, 10.30 start.
The two other nations also with six points from their four games thus far – Italy and Denmark – face-off at Grainville.
Although Guernsey are the outsiders of the four by virtue of their inferior net run-rate, a convincing victory over the hosts and a narrow Denmark win or a tie in the other match could see them snatch first place.
There was good news on the fitness front yesterday, too, with all-rounder Matt Stokes declaring himself fit to play after not taking to the field against Italy due to a minor groin problem.
Countries already through to ICC World Twenty20 Global Qualifier: Ireland, Afghanistan, Nepal, UAE, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Scotland, Namibia, Kenya, Canada, USA, Oman, Papua New Guinea, plus winners of ICC European Division One.
More in Wednesday's Guernsey Press.
