JERSEY’S cricketers face an uphill struggle to remain in Division IV of the World Cricket League after defeats in their opening two games over the weekend in Tanzania.

The Island squad travelled to South Africa with high hopes of gaining promotion but now their focus has changed to one of survival following defeats by Afghanistan yesterday and Tanzania on Saturday.

Jersey have divisional matches remaining against Italy (tomorrow), Fiji (Wednesday) and Hong Kong (Friday) and with their promotion hopes now looking to have ended they must finish out of the bottom two positions in the six-team division or they will be relegated back to Division IV.

Jersey skipper Matt Hague said: ‘Obviously we’re disappointed to have lost both games; Tanzania was a really disappointing result while yesterday Afghanistan were the better team by a long way.

• Picture: Afghanistan hit out against the Jersey attack. Picture by ICC Cricket Europe