Ireland to meet PNG in third round

Table-toppers Ireland, who have 40 points from their first two matches, will take on Papua New Guinea in the third round of the Intercontinental Cup. Their match will be held in Townsville from January 31 to February 3. PNG, who have one win and a loss from their first two games, are currently fifth on 20 points.

Netherlands, in second place on 26 points, will travel to Abu Dhabi to take on beleaguered UAE, who are rock bottom with two defeats from two games. Afghanistan, in third place with 21 points, have a long wait ahead of them before their next Intercontinental Cup fixture, against Namibia from April 10 to 13.

In the 50-over World Cricket League, meanwhile, four teams are tied on top of the table with six points each from four matches. Two of those four teams, Hong Kong and Scotland, will face off twice against each other, at Mission Road on January 26 and 28. Nepal and Namibia, meanwhile, have a chance of climbing out of the bottom half of the table when they face each other in Kathmandu on April 16 and 18.