Beyond the Test World

Cusack and O'Brien inspire Ireland win

Ireland 152 for 7 (O'Brien 46, Nawaz 3-23) beat UAE 130 (Ali 63, Cusack 3-23) by 22 runs Scorecard

Ireland 152 for 7 (O'Brien 46, Nawaz 3-23) beat UAE 130 (Ali 63, Cusack 3-23) by 22 runs
Scorecard

25-Feb-2013

UAE crashed to defeat against Ireland, losing five wickets for 14 runs to end their unbeaten record in the tournament and leave Ireland one win away from qualifying for the World Twenty20. Batting first on a sluggish track Ireland did well to reach 152, thanks largely to Niall O'Brien's controlled innings of 46 and some lusty lower-order blows from Gary Wilson. In reply UAE recovered from a bad start to set up their chase nicely, needing 37 from 25 balls with Saqib Ali on 62 and five wickets in hand, before crumbling in dramatic fashion.

Expectations of the two sides could not have been more contrasting coming into the tournament, Ireland were recognised as the best team outside the Test game, while UAE only made it into the event because they were hosts. Yet, after the opening round, it was UAE who were unbeaten, and Ireland who were scrapping to keep themselves in the hunt for a place in the Caribbean.

William Porterfield again got his side off to a positive start, having won the toss and chosen to bat, taking two boundaries from the first over and racing to 22 from 13 balls. But a change of pace proved his undoing as he fell to Ali.

Hamid Hassan blog - We can do better tomorrow

Hamid Hassan

25-Feb-2013

Arriving at the ground this morning, I wasn’t expecting us to lose to the Netherlands, but we didn’t score enough runs and made too many mistakes in the field, dropping important catches and conceding far too many extras.

I don’t think it was the pressure of the game that got to us, since we have really improved those areas of our game recently. Mohammad Nabi bowled really well though and although I tried my best I couldn’t get an early wicket in my spell.

I hope that we can do much better tomorrow, as we know so much riding on the game. It is agonising to think that we are so close to going to the Caribbean but that we also may miss out on playing in another major event having failed to qualify for the 50-over World Cup last year. I can only imagine how busy the internet cafes will be back at home tomorrow with everybody following the live scores on the internet.

Afghanistan suffer first defeat

Netherlands 132 for 6 (Kervezee 39, Nabi 3-23) beat Afghanistan 128 for 9 (Ahmadzai 23, Jonkman 2-23) by four wickets

Liam Brickhill

25-Feb-2013

Netherlands 132 for 6 (Kervezee 39, Nabi 3-23) beat Afghanistan128 for 9 (Ahmadzai 23, Jonkman 2-23) by four wickets

Afghanistan's dream of a place at the World Twenty20 was placed on standby after their defeat to Netherlands at Dubai International stadium. Put in to bat in an electric atmosphere in front of a crowd of well over 2,500, Afghanistan were restricted to 128 for 9, with several batsmen making starts but none able to push on for a big total. In reply, Alexei Kervezee and Eric Szwarczynski got the chase off to a flier, and Netherlands weathered a late fightback from Mohammad Nabi and Hamid Hassan to register a tense four-wicket win.

Afghanistan had to be on top of their game in the field after posting such a modest total, but they let themselves down with several fielding and bowling lapses to allow Netherlands to take control. Mohammad Shahzad, the wicketkeeper, put down a chance in the first over of Netherlands' chase, and the 18 extras given away did nothing to help Afghanistan's attempts to restrict the scoring. In the tense closing moments of the game, Shapoor Zadran's casual attempt at a catch let Ryan ten Doeschate, the last recognised batsman at the crease, off the hook and he lofted Hassan over mid on three balls later to seal the win.

Zadran's economical opening spells have been one of the vital ingredients in Afghanistan's success in this tournament so far. He leaked runs against Ireland, but gave away just 21 runs in eight overs against Scotland and USA. Admittedly, he would have been frustrated by the missed chance off his third ball today, but he was unforgivably wayward thereafter, giving away four boundaries in his opening spell.

Afghanistan's <i>Rocky</i> ascent

Hamid Hassan

Judhajit

25-Feb-2013

Our first aim has been achieved and we have qualified for the Super Fours stages of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier after we beat USA today.

It is a real boost that we have won all three matches and that we carry two points into the next stage. We know that one more win might be enough to get us into the final, but our only focus is trying to win every match that we play in.

I was really pleased with my bowling display – it is always nice to get a wicket with your first ball – and I always felt confident that we would be able to defend our target.

Obanda leads Kenyan rout of Canada

Kenya 141 for (Obanda 79, Tikolo 50) beat Canada 138 for 9 (Bagai 36, Odhiambo 3-16) by nine wickets Scorecard

Kenya 141 for (Obanda 79, Tikolo 50) beat Canada 138 for 9 (Bagai 36, Odhiambo 3-16) by nine wickets
Scorecard

25-Feb-2013

Alex Obanda butchered 79 from 48 balls to lead Kenya to a resounding victory over Canada in the World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dubai.

Following their disappointing defeat to minnows UAE in their opening game, where their conservative approach strangled hopes of chasing 165, Kenya came out firing in pursuit of a modest total from Canada. Obanda dominated a 126-run opening stand with Steve Tikolo, which came from only 76 balls.

The pair were severe on the generous serving of short balls dished up from the Canada bowlers, who were clearly wilting in the heat of the Kenyan attack. From the first over Obanda unfurled an array of rasping cuts and pulls, taking 13 off Umar Bhatti's opening over, as he raced to his fifty from just 23 balls.

Two wins out of two

Hamid Hassan

Nitin Sundar

25-Feb-2013

Two wins out of two is the perfect start for us to the tournament and it was a very good performance with the ball against Scotland on Wednesday.

I was very worried whether we would manage a defendable score, but when we got to 130 I felt very confident. I told the coach during the innings break that I thought we had enough if we all bowled really well. My role in the team is to come on after about 10 overs and try and bowl quickly, which is something that I really enjoy, and it was nice to take wickets again today.

Our opening bowlers, Shapoor Zadran and Mirwais Ashraf were excellent – they only conceded eight runs in the first five overs, and really put a lot of pressure on Scotland and then our spin bowlers, Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Nabi, kept up the pressure.

USA sink to 78-run defeat

Ireland 202 for 4 (O'Brien 84, Cusack 46) beat USA 124 for 6 (Thyagarajan 72*, Connell 4-14) by 78 runs Scorecard

Ireland 202 for 4 (O'Brien 84, Cusack 46) beat USA 124 for 6 (Thyagarajan 72*, Connell 4-14) by 78 runs
Scorecard

25-Feb-2013

After the jubilation of their unexpected win over Scotland, USA came crashing back down today as Niall O'Brien's 84 lifted Ireland to a massive 202 for 4 and set up a 78-run win. Aditya Thyagarajan's unbeaten 72 saved USA's humiliation after they had slipped to 25 for 6 in their chase, but the result was already all but guaranteed after Ireland ratcheted up their highest total in Twenty20 cricket.

After the promising start in the win over Scotland, USA were badly let down by their bowlers today. William Porterfield and O'Brien stormed to 83 at 10 an over before Saurabh Verma found the edge of Porterfield's bat for 45, and after he departed Alex Cusack ensured there would be no let-up in the onslaught.

O'Brien looked set for a maiden Twenty20 hundred as he entered the 80s with 19 balls remaining in the innings, but it was not to be. He gave Timroy Allen the first of his two wickets to depart for 84, but by then the total had already passed 170. The other O'Brien - Kevin - came and went quickly, and Cusack was dismissed four runs short of a half-century, but Trent Johnston and Gary Wilson's late hitting took Ireland's score past 200.

A thrilling start

Hamid Hassan

George Binoy

25-Feb-2013

What a way to start the tournament! To win your opening game of the event is always important but to beat the number one Associate team who played in the Super Eights at the last ICC World Twenty20 is an amazing feeling.

Even though we beat Ireland at the World Cup Qualifier last year and in the ICC Intercontinental Cup last month, I always knew it was going to be a tough game, so to come out on top is a real boost for the team.

The support we received from the Afghanistan supporters was fantastic in the stadium. They made a lot of noise playing the drums. It was a great atmosphere to play in front of and really helped us gain our momentum once we got William Porterfield out. I would also to like to thank everybody who has been sending us messages from back in Afghanistan – the support we get from you all is incredible.

Afghanistan through to Super Fours

Afghanistan 131 for 7 (Noor Ali 42, Coetzer 3-25) beat Scotland 117 for 9 (McCallum 38, Hassan 3-32) by 14 runs Scorecard

Liam Brickhill

25-Feb-2013

Afghanistan 131 for 7 (Noor Ali 42, Coetzer 3-25) beat Scotland 117 for 9 (McCallum 38, Hassan 3-32) by 14 runs
Scorecard

Afghanistan continued their seemingly inexorable march to the World Twenty20 with a 14-run win over Scotland at Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi. Noor Ali's blistering 42, when wickets were falling around him, provided the early impetus in Afghanistan's 131 for 7 and Shapoor Zadran's remarkable bowling - he conceded just eight runs in four overs - held Scotland at bay to ensure Afghanistan's passage into the Super Fours.

Scotland's decision to field this morning appeared to have paid dividends when Gordon Drummond picked up Karim Sadiq and Shafiqullah in his first over, but Ali was unperturbed and crashed four fours and a six in his 42. With his partner striking the ball so cleanly, Mohammad Shahzad could afford to play a more sedate innings. His 30 contained just a single boundary, but he rotated the strike well in the 71-run partnership.

Kyle Coetzer grabbed three quick wickets - including the hero of yesterday's game, Mohammad Nabi, first ball - to peg Afghanistan back, and when Samiullah Shenwari picked out Gavin Hamilton off Jan Stander in the 19th over, Afghanistan were struggling at 116 for 7. But a late surge from Raees Ahmadzai and Mirwais Ashraf took the score past 130 and gave Afghanistan's bowlers a decent total to defend.