Jersey out of T20 World Cup qualifiers after Sweden loss

Aimee Akienhead's 58 not out kept Jersey in the game

Jersey's hopes of reaching the Women's T20 World Cup are over after they surprisingly lost to bottom side Sweden by 18 runs.

Jersey skipper Chloe Greechan had taken a hat-trick for the islanders as they restricted the Swedes to 128-8.

But in reply, Jersey's batting woes continued as Gaya Jayaweera took a hat-trick and the islanders were bowled out for 110 in 18 overs.

The loss means any hopes Jersey had of catching Germany for second place, and a spot in the first division of European qualifying later this year, are over.

Jersey were the second-highest ranked side going into the six-team round-robin tournament but won just two matches.

They beat Spain and the Isle of Man after losing to hosts and tournament winners Italy and the Germans in their first two games.

Swedish openers Anya Vaidya (25) and Eman Asim (45) put on 64 for the opening wicket.

Elsa Thelander's 21 not out held the innings together as Jersey took regular wickets before Greechan got her hat-trick with the final three deliveries of the innings to return figures of 4-13.

In reply, Jersey's poor form with the bat continued. They were reduced to 22-3 off four overs as top order batters Analise Merritt, Grace Wetherall and Mia Maguire scored eight runs between them.

Were it not for opener Aimee Aikenhead's 58 not out the islanders would have been lucky to make 50 - extras of 28 were the second-highest contributor to Jersey's total as no other player scored more than eight runs.

Their poor display was typified when Jayaweera dismissed Annabel Mossop, Nia Greig and Kate Follain in successive balls in the 16th over to leave Jersey on 92-9.

Aikenhead tried her best to bring Jersey home as she hit eight boundaries in a 53-ball knock.

But when tail-ender Olivia Bastin was caught off Jayaweera for a seven-ball duck, the game was over as Jersey were bowled out for 110 off 18 overs.

"We've just got to regroup as a team and take a lot of positives away from this tournament," Greechan said after the game.

"There are lots of things to improve on, but overall there's mixed emotions in the camp right now."