Beyond the Test World
Italy pull off shock victory
Italy stunned previously-unbeaten Scotland A on the third day of the European Division 1 Championship in Jersey on Friday, pulling off a narrow seven-run victory in a rain-affected match at Farmer’s Field
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Italy stunned previously-unbeaten Scotland A on the third day of the European Division 1 Championship in Jersey on Friday, pulling off a narrow seven-run victory in a rain-affected match at Farmer’s Field. Scotland’s defeat left hosts Jersey in pole position to win the tournament, since they were much too strong for Netherlands A in their game at FB Fields, while Ireland A bounced back from their defeat by Jersey on Wednesday by cruising to a comfortable victory over Denmark at Grainville.
Italy reached 249 for 7 at the end of their 50 overs after choosing to bat against Scotland A at Farmer’s Field. Top scorers were Andrew Northcote and Dilan Fernando, with 72 and 62, respectively, while Hemantha Jayasena was unbeaten on 47. Sean Weeraratna, was the pick of the Scottish bowlers with figures of three for 44.
Rain delayed the start of Scotland’s reply, and with the match reduced to 47 overs their target was adjusted to 244. They were well placed at 124 for 2 in the 27th over, Ewan Chalmers (57) and Qasim Sheikh (38) having given them a solid platform, but as the Scots attempted to accelerate wickets began to fall. Jan Stander and Willie Rowan kept their hopes alive, and at 217 for 5 they were again well placed. But then Gayashan Munasinghe returned to the attack to remove both of them, and in the end the target proved just too great.
Jersey made 236 for 8 in their 50 overs against Netherlands A after choosing to bat. Top scorers were Peter Gough and Chris Jones, with 57 and 36, respectively. The best bowlers for Netherlands A were Tom Heggelman, Matthis Luten, Mohsin Ghaznavi and Bernard Loots, who all captured two wickets.
Full postGuernsey stay unbeaten with win over Germany
Jeremy Frith produced a fine all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten century and taking three wickets, as Guernsey beat Germany by 8 wickets to remain unbeaten in their quest for the ICC European Division Two title.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Jeremy Frith produced a fine all-round performance, scoring an unbeaten century and taking three wickets, as Guernsey beat Germany by 8 wickets to remain unbeaten in their quest for the ICC European Division Two title.
The hosts won the toss and chose to bowl. led by Frith, they reduced Germany to 123-6 but an unbeaten seventh wicket stand of 65 between Rishi Pillai and Shakeel Hassan helped Germany partially recover to 188-6 from their 50 overs. Frith finished with 3-37 from his 10 overs.
Guernsey lost both openers with just 57 on the board, but Frith and Tim Ravsenscroft came together to put on 133 and see Gurnsey home, with Frith making exactly 100*.
Norway beat Gibraltar by three-wickets thanks to a 71-run partnership for the eighth wicket between Shahbaz Butt and Aziz Ataul. Chasing 190, Norway were in all sorts of trouble at 122 for 7, but Butt’s superb 70 from 88 balls, with eight fours, carried them home with almost six overs to spare. Gibraltar made of 189 for off their 50 overs.
Full postJersey throw championship open with win
Jersey threw the ICC European Division 1 Championship wide open on Wednesday as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Ireland A at Les Quennevais , while elsewhere the heavy rain which enveloped Jersey in the afternoon produced two tight
Liam Brickhill
25-Feb-2013
Jersey threw the ICC European Division 1 Championship wide open on Wednesday as they cruised to a seven-wicket victory over Ireland A at Les Quennevais, while elsewhere the heavy rain which enveloped Jersey in the afternoon produced two tight finishes in rain-reduced run chases.
Jersey’s new-ball pair of Ryan Driver and Chris Jones seized the initiative after Ireland A chose to bat first, quickly reducing their opponents to 39 for 4. The Irish were in real trouble at 61 for 6. Albert van der Merwe managed to get the total up to 128 but his side finished on that score in the 46th over. Stevens finished with 3 for 15 and Jones with 3 for 20.
Jersey openers Dean Morrison and Ed Farley had reached 40 before rain intervened, and after the break they extended their opening partnership to 63. Driver and Morrison then added another 41. Morrison, having made a match-winning 66-ball 55, departed with Jersey needing 21 for victory. Peter Gough and Jones knocked off the remaining runs as Jersey completed their win with nearly 20 overs to spare.
Scotland A claimed a second win by beating Denmark by five wickets in a game at FB Fields. Put in by Scotland, Denmark began steadily despite the early loss of key wickets. The Scottish attack generally bowled with great discipline, Tyler Buchan and Zeeshan Bashir the most economical with 2 for 30 and 1 for 27 respectively from their ten overs. Denmark managed to reach 175 for 5 due to some controlled aggression from Martin Pedersen and Jacob Larsen.
Full postIreland A, Scotland A, Jersey post wins
Ireland A 162 for 3 (Hall 61*, Thompson 33) beat Italy 161 (Coghlan 2-28, Getkate 2-30, van der Merwe 2-21) by seven wickets
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Ireland A 162 for 3 (Hall 61*, Thompson 33) beat Italy 161 (Coghlan 2-28, Getkate 2-30, van der Merwe 2-21) by seven wickets
Ireland A began their defence of the European Championship Division One title with a convincing seven-wicket win over Italy at F.B. Fields, while hosts Jersey and Scotland A also began their campaigns with victories.
Ireland’s bowlers turned in a clinical display as Italy struggled to keep wickets intact. They eventuallt folded for the sub-par score of 161. Ireland A were made to work hard during the chase, by a persistent Italian attack, but opener James Hall was equal to the challenge, scoring a patient unbeaten 61 to see his side through.
Full postGuernsey begin with emphatic win
Hosts Guernsey produced a comprehensive 141-run victory over Gibraltar to seize the initiative in the European Division Two championships
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Hosts Guernsey produced a comprehensive 141-run victory over Gibraltar to seize the initiative in the European Division Two championships. Lee Savident’s 91 was the centerpiece of his side’s surge to a strong score of 264 for 4 from their 50 overs.
In reply Gibraltar floundered early, at one stage being 9 for 3. They were dismissed for 123 in the 44th over. The wickets were shared between Andrew Hutchinson, Jonny Warr, Jamie Nussbaumer, Jeremy Frith, Gary Rich and Tim Ravenscroft.
Germany had to earn a hard fought win against France after scoring 172 for 9. Farooq Ahmed led the charge with 40. France just fell short in their bid for victory, though while Arun Ayyavooraju (63) was at the crease. Time was on the French’s side, but the last pair were left needing to score 30. They were bowled out for 167 in the 49th over.
The third game of the day was another close contest between Norway and Israel. Norway were bowled out in the final over for 204. Damien Shortis top scored with 66. At 191 for 4 with nearly 4 overs remaining Israel looked in control, but contrived to lose their cool in a spate of wickets. As it transpired, no. 11 Eliezer Sampson was run out off the penultimate ball of the match, with the Israelis still 4 short of the target, giving Norway a thrilling win.
Full postExperienced sides line up for European WCL Division One
The ICC European WCL Division One Championship heads to Jersey today where Denmark, Jersey and Italy line up alongside A teams from Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
The ICC European WCL Division One Championship heads to Jersey today where Denmark, Jersey and Italy line up alongside A teams from Ireland, Netherlands and Scotland.
Ireland, holders of both the European Division One and A team titles, have named a strong 14-man squad with five players from the side that played in the Global World Cricket League Division One championship in Netherlands.
Andrew Balbirnie, James Hall and Craig Young, wicketkeeper Rory McCann, and offspinner Albert van der Merwe are all named in the squad, with Balbirnie and Young having both being named in the Under-19 World Cup qualifier squad. Australia-born left-hander Jeremy Bray, who has played 83 games for Ireland offers a good balance between youth and experience.
Full postKenya stare into the abyss
After their performances over the last week in the Netherlands, where they finished rock bottom, Kenya's players ought to slink back into Nairobi with their tails between their legs and beg Cricket Kenya to give them a contract
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
After their performances over the last week in the Netherlands, where they finished rock bottom, Kenya's players ought to slink back into Nairobi with their tails between their legs and beg Cricket Kenya to give them a contract. Instead, it is likely they will return home and arrogantly resume their demands for an even bigger share of a small pot.
Kenya were the only fully-professional team in the Netherlands. Actually, they were professional only in the sense they got paid. Their performances with both bat and ball were dismal and they finished the ICC World Cricket League exactly where they deserved to be.
There is a depressing and overwhelming feeling Kenyan cricket may have reached its zenith at the 2003 World Cup and the last few years have not been so much a period of transition as the start of a possibly terminal decline.
Full postPapua New Guinea's Haoda to train in Queensland
PNG Barramundi fast bowler Raymond Haoda Jnr has landed in Brisbane to have a crack at Queensland cricket, after being selected to take part in the QLD Bulls Cricket Elite Pace Bowler Development Programme.
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
PNG Barramundi fast bowler Raymond Haoda Jnr has landed in Brisbane to have a crack at Queensland cricket, after being selected to take part in the QLD Bulls Cricket Elite Pace Bowler Development Programme.
Along with nine of the best young fast bowlers from around Queensland, Raymond will have the benefit of state-of-the-art sport technology and science, will receive advice from some of the best cricket coaches in the world and will also be able to pick the brains of some former and current Queensland and Australian cricketers, with whom he will share training facilities.
The programme will see training six days a week at Queensland Cricket's facilities at Allan Border Oval and with a personal trainer in a local gym. As part of his training, Raymond will spend time under the expert tutelage of QLD Cricket's pace bowling and strength and conditioning coaching staff and PNG coaching director Andy Bichel. He will be competing throughout the programme for a future position in the QLD Bull's State Program and has also signed to play premier cricket for North's Cricket Club in Brisbane as part of his development.
Full postBotswana take cricket to the schools
A new era came about on June 15-16 when the first ever Cricket Workshop was held at Makhubu Cricket Club in Selebi Phikwe for primary school teachers from 27 primary schools.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
A new era came about on June 15-16 when the first ever Cricket Workshop was held at Makhubu Cricket Club in Selebi Phikwe for primary school teachers from 27 primary schools.
The workshop was run by the Botswana Cricket Association in conjunction with the Primary Schools sports running Board, BOPSSA. The orientation course was part of the development programme being undertaken by the Botswana cricket association in trying to introduce cricket to all regions of the country. The teachers underwent both theory and practicals at the two-day workshop under the tutulege of the Northern based BCA Coach, Clement Chipanga who was ably assisted by Taurai Chakanetsa, Selibe Phikwe and Claire Maele.
The course covered the basics in cricket skills that comprised of bowling, batting and fielding. The teachers also had the opportunity of learning the basics of officiating and scoring in cricket. One positive note was the composition of the participants that saw both male and female teachers attending thereby giving opportunities to all as the game is now widely being played by both sexes as this will see cricket being introduced in the schools and creating a wide base from which talent can be taped from. It will also culminate in more citizens being involved in cricket thus fulfilling the BCA theme 'Bringing Cricket to the Nation'.
Also present was the chairman of Makhubu Cricket Club Mr. A. Dunlop and the BCA General Secretary Mr. F. Sheriff who urged the teachers to grab this opportunity and introduce the sport in their respective schools right away. Teachers were also encouraged to improvise equipment and utilise the current facilities in their schools.
Full postCricket to feature in South-East Asian Games 2011
Cricket will be played for the first time at the South-east Asian Games in 2011 in Indonesia as a demonstration sport .
Tony Munro
25-Feb-2013
Cricket will be played for the first time at the South-east Asian Games in 2011 in Indonesia as a demonstration sport .
Six sides featuring the national teams from Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Brunei, Myanmar and Indonesia will contest a Twenty20 tournament, although as a demonstration sport medals will not be at stake. Cricket Indonesia official, Prakash Vijaykumar, said it was likely the cricket event would be staged in Jakarta.
Vijaykumar said local Indonesian stations normally telecast the SEA Games, and it was likely feeds would be provided to the other visiting countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Timor-Leste and Vietnam which won't be taking part in the cricket event. Laos and Timor-Leste are the only countries taking part in the SEA Games which do not have cricket clubs.
Full post