Guernsey target Jersey win in T20 World Cup qualifiers
Guernsey began their campaign with a seven-wicket loss to Italy
- Published
Guernsey manager Rob Thomson says his side will be looking to upset Channel Island rivals Jersey in their T20 World Cup qualifier.
The two sides meet at an international T20 tournament for the first time in The Hague on Tuesday with both teams in need of a win to keep their slim qualification hopes alive.
Jersey narrowly lost to the Netherlands on Saturday before their game with Italy was abandoned on Sunday.
Meanwhile Guernsey were heavily beaten by Italy on Saturday before their game with Scotland was washed out.
Guernsey narrowly lost their T20 series 2-1 to Jersey last month, falling three runs short of their target in the final game of a rain-affected series.
"I think for us, being realistic, it's probably our best opportunity to get a win while we're here," Thomson told BBC Radio Guernsey.
"We feel slightly hard done by, very unfortunate a couple of weeks ago not to at least have won the series 2-1 in Jersey, so we've got a lot of confidence.
"We beat them last summer as well, so we've started to kind of break that duck and try to turn that form around.
"So having a crack at them over here in a tournament as well, and the opportunity to make a big statement with a win is something that we're really looking forward to, so fingers crossed the weather plays ball."
Guernsey have reached the final stage of qualifying for a T20 World Cup for the first time
Guernsey are bottom of the five-team round robin table by virtue of their low net run-rate while Jersey are one place above them. Both have one point from two games.
Scotland also have one point and a game in hand while Netherlands and Italy occupy the qualifying places after two matches with three points each.
"It's quite unique to play that fixture on such a scale as well, it just adds to it even more," Thomson added.
"The underdog suits us massively, they know from a couple of weeks ago how competitive we are with them.
"We played better cricket than them a couple of weeks ago, so if we can bring that into here they'll still be pushing and thinking they can qualify, so if we can make a dent in that that's extra motivation for us as well."