USA's 2011 Cricket World Cup qualifying hopes were shattered in Jersey yesterday after they suffered a shock 84-run loss against the host country in the ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Division Five semi-final.

The Americans, who had an ICC-imposed ban from international cricket lifted last month, needed to beat Jersey in order to qualify for the next stage of the World Cup qualifiers in Tanzania in October.

But a half-century from opening bat Peter Gough and Matthew Hague's five-wicket haul enabled Jersey to pull off an upset.

USA won the toss and put their hosts in to bat but must have regretted that decision as Jersey's opening pair of Gough (65) and S.Carlyon found runs easy to come by, adding 122 for the first wicket.

The Americans fought back as Jersey lost five wickets in the space of 65 runs with seamer Imran Anwan (two for 37) inflicting the heaviest damage.

Ryan Driver (28 not out) and Jonathan Gough (19 not out) steadied the ship via an unbroken 33 run sixth-wicket stand that hauled Jersey to their eventual total of 220 for five.

USA struggled in reply and quickly found themselves wobbling at 99-5 and they never recovered as man-of-the-match Hague sliced through the lower order after seamer Driver (three for 32) made the initial breakthrough.

Middle order bat Rashard Marshall led the USA resistance, scoring 39 off 66 balls, while all-rounder Aditya Thyagarajan added 25 off 47 balls before the Americans folded in the 39th over.

USA's defeat shocked many, including Bermuda coach Gus Logie. "This is definitely a setback for USA cricket and there's no two ways about that," the ex-Test player said. "Everybody expected USA to qualify because they have some quality players.

"But now they will have to wait a little longer (to qualify for World Cup) and hopefully they have the patience to continue working with the players they have."

Jersey will now join Hong Kong, Fiji, Tanzania, Italy and Afghanistan - who beat Nepal by 37 runs in yesterday's other ICC WCL Division Five semi-final - in the six-team ICC WCL Divison Four set for Tanzania from October 4-11.