4 February 2007

ICC World Cricket League Round-Up

Three matches were played today in the ICC World Cricket League, with all 6 teams in action, and todays action had everything, a one-sided affair, the top two playing each other and a high-scoring thriller.

Bermuda took on Holland at the Ruaraka Sports Club Ground, in a game that turned into a one-sided affair, with Holland coming out eight wicket winners. Bermuda recovered from a dreadful start to their innings which left them at 12-3 before they recovered thanks to a half century from David Hemp which eventually took them to 194. Holland lost an early wicket but a partnership of 177 between Bas Zuiderent (71) and Ryan ten Doeschate, who scored an unbeaten 109 took the game away from the Bermudans, as they won by 8 wickets.

Canada took on Ireland in a high-scoring thriller at the Jaffery Sports Club Ground in which the North Americans came out on top. Ireland batted first and started off strongly, scoring at over a run-a-ball in the first 10 overs, before a century from Eoin Morgan (115) and a half-century from Kevin O'Brien (52) put the Irish on course for a score of around 275 before captain Trent Johnson scored a brutal 44 from 27 balls to take this team to 308-7. In reply Canada lost the early wicket of Ashif Mulla before big partnerships developed between the Canadian middle-order and a century from Ashish Bagai (122) left Canada needing 49 to win off the last 29 balls but a 41-ball 60 from Qaiser Ali took Canada home with two balls to spare.

In the day's big game between Kenya and Scotland at the Gymkhana Club Ground Scotland won the toss and decided to bat first. Having been 103-0 and 174-2 at one point, Scotland had a mini collapse losing 4 wickets for just 33 runs thanks to three wickets from Kenya captain Steve Tikolo, before a late surge took them to 254-8, with fifties from Majid Haq (71), Fraser Watts and Gavin Hamilton (both 58). In reply the Kenyans started poorly with John Blain taking 3-28 as Kenya slumped to 81-5 inside the first 20 overs. Knocks from Tanmay Mishra (38) and Thomas Odoyo (53) briefly recovered the innings but it was never going to be enough as they were eventually bowled out for 177, and Majid Haq capped off a fine day taking 3-26 with the ball.

Scorecards

Bermuda V Holland (Ruaraka Sports Club Ground)
Bermuda 194 (46.3 overs)
DL Hemp 58 (98)
LO Cann 48 (36)
RN ten Doeschate 3-37 (8.3 overs)
Mohammad Kashif 3-42 (10)
Holland 198-2 (43.1 overs)
RN ten Doeschate 109 (125)
B Zuiderent 71 (122)
K Hurdle 1-41 (10)
M Jones 1-49 (10)
Holland won by 8 wickets
Man of the Match: RN ten Doeschate (Holland)

Canada V Ireland (Jaffery Sports Club Ground)

Ireland 308-7 (50 overs)
EJG Morgan 115 (106)
KJ O'Brien 52 (83)
U Bhatti 2-35 (10 overs)
H Osinde 2-53 (7)
Canada 312-4 (49.4 overs)
A Bagai 122 (132)
Qaiser Ali 60 (41)
KJ O'Brien 1-34 (7)
JF Mooney 1-62 (8)
Canada won by 6 wickets
Man of the Match: A Bagai (Canada)

Kenya V Scotland (Gymkhana Club Ground)

Scotland 254-8 (50 overs)
RM Haq 71 (108)
GM Hamilton 58 (61)
SO Tikolo 3-46 (10 overs)
PJ Ongondo 2-44 (10)
Kenya 177 (46 overs)
TM Odoyo 53 (76)
T Mishra 38 (49)
RM Haq 3-26 (9)
JAR Blain 3-28 (8)
Scotland won by 77 runs
Man of the Match: RM Haq (Scotland)

Scotland now head the points table and qualify for the final after their victory over Kenya, with the Africans on their tails in second. Holland and Canada can still make the final in third but it's all over now for Ireland and Bermuda, who lose all chance of qualifying with losses today.

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