Beyond the Test World
A busy time for Associates
The leading Associates’ itineraries for the first six months of 2010 have been announced by the ICC, and once again they show the difficulty faced by the boards to secure fixtures against Full Members.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The leading Associates’ itineraries for the first six months of 2010 have been announced by the ICC, and once again they show the difficulty faced by the boards to secure fixtures against Full Members.
Canada
They arrive in Sri Lanka next week for almost three weeks of preparations ahead of the ICC World Cup Twenty20 Qualifier, and their time there includes a short Twenty20 series involving Afghanistan and Ireland. After the T20 Qualifiers they remain in the UAE where they again meet Afghanistan, this time in two ODIs, followed by an Intercontinental Cup tie.
They are scheduled to be in Jamaica on early April to play an ODI and T20 game against West Indies. In May, they take part in the Americas Division One competition in Bermuda.
As with all sides in the T20 Qualifiers, if they make it through to the main tournament they will be in the USA at a training camp from April 18 to 23 with the event in the Caribbean following on.
Full postUSA's World Cup preparations hit roadblock
USA’s preparations for the ICC Under-19 World Cup came unstuck as they were beaten by Hong Kong in a warm-up match
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
USA’s preparations for the ICC Under-19 World Cup came unstuck as they were beaten by Hong Kong in a warm-up match. Afgahnistan, who beat Hong Kong earlier in the week, lost to a Canterbury A team, while Canada lost to an Auckland XI.
USA only managed 182 for 9 after they chose to bat, their efforts not aided by three run outs. Hong Kong raced to 186 for 4 in 32.2 overs with captain Jamie Atkinson blasting 100 off 86 deliveries. He added 156 at almost a run-a-ball with Ashish Gadhia (59).
Afghanistan went down to a five-wicket loss to Canterbury A, being bowled out for 169 after a promising start. Canterbury eased to victory in 32.2 overs, opener Kereyn Ambler leading the way with 70 off 77 balls.
Auckland XI made 171 for 6 in a match reduced to 33 overs-a-side by rain. Canada struggled to keep on top of a stiff asking rate and finished on 148 for 7, although a fifty from Ruvindu Gunasekara gave them some cause for optimism.
Full postBattling EAP fall 11 short in big chase
Tony Munro
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
East Asia-Pacific (EA-P) has put in a strong batting performance to go close in its two-day Australian Country Championships match against Western Australia in Albury on Friday.
Chasing a formidable 314, all of the EA-P top-order made double-figures, with Papua New Guinea's Chris Amini (69) and captain Andrew Mansale (65) making half-centuries, only to fall 11 runs short. The regional team batted out its entire 100 overs, giving the players valuable experience in accumulating an innings.
The team has a rest day tomorrow before playing competition leaders, Northern Territory in a two-day game starting on Sunday.
Full postEAP let Western Australia off the hook
Tony Munro
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
East Asia-Pacific (EAP) is staring at a run-chase of 314 after having Western Australia 5 for 45 on the first day of its fifth round two-day game in the Australian Country Championship in Albury on Thursday.
When Fijian Sakaria Lomani had WA captain Rodney Ford trapped lbw for 2, EAP seemed assured of at least a first-innings victory with the Sandgropers decimated.
However, WA's Matt Fink and Nick Willis combined to add 76 runs to start a miraculous rescue. At the end of the day's play, Willis was unbeaten on 130 and WA was all-out for 313.
Full postEAP brushed aside by NSW
Tony Munro
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
After their win over South Australia, East Asia-Pacific (EAP) was given a stark reality check, losing its one-day match to New South Wales by eight wickets in the Australian Country Championships in Bethangra on Tuesday.
NSW cantered home, needing just 31.4 overs to overtake the EAP total of 174 all out, which included another good innings from Papua New Guinea batsman, Assad Vala (29). It was enough to put Vala in third place among run-scorers at the Championships.
East Asia-Pacific 173 (VV Morea 25, A Vala 29, L Noa 25) lost to New South Wales 174 for 2 (C Amini 1-36, W Gavera 1-37)
Points: NSW Country 5 EAP 0
Full postPoints: NSW Country 5 EAP 0
Poor start by EAP
Tony Munro
Nitin Sundar
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
A good bowling performance was betrayed by equally inept batting as East Asia-Pacific (EAP) lost both their matches on the first day of their Australian Country Championships campaign in Albury on Sunday.
The composite team from the ICC's East Asia-Pacific team restricted Victoria Country to 118 for 3 from their 20 overs as Papua New Guinea players Chris Amini and Willie Gavera each took a wicket and conceded just 20 runs from their four overs. Their countryman Loa Nou had the same analysis except he went wicketless.
In reply EAP folded up in 18.2 overs and fell 18 runs short as Assad Vala top-scored with 49.
Full postBowlers mastermind first EAP win
Tony Munro
Nitin Sundar
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
East Asia-Pacific (EAP) has won its first game of this year's Australian Country Championships, beating South Australia by 66 runs in Albury on Monday.
A combination of another good bowling display and a crucial 86-run partnership between Chris Amini and Assad Vala gave the combined team a lift, three games into its campaign.
Defending 186, EAP had South Australia in early trouble at 3-46 before Andrew Mansale (3-21) and Loa Nou (3-22) ripped through the middle order to prevent any chance of a recovery.
Full postEast Asia-Pacific look for a stitch in time
Tony Munro
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
The composite ICC East Asia-Pacific (EAP) team will open their Australian Country Championships campaign on Sunday, with Twenty20 matches against Victoria and Queensland in Albury-Wodonga.
The Championships feature combined teams from the rural/non-metropolitan areas from the five Australian mainland states and territories, the Northern Territory, who are appearing for the first time, and the Australian Capital Territory (Canberra).
The event is also a chance for the EAP players to test themselves on turf wickets against experienced, albeit amateur cricketers.
Full postAfghanistan inter-provincal tournament
Tony Munro
Sahil Dutta
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Four teams have reportedly qualified for the first round of Afghanistan's Inter Provincial 25-over tournament in Jalabad - Laghman, Wardak, Parwan and Herat.
Two games each day are being played on cement pitches in Jalalabad in the qualifying event for Afghanistan's main tournament to be played in May.
The majority of the teams are from the traditional heartland of Afghan cricket, the east, although it is understood teams from Herat in the west, and Helmand have also taken part.
Full postAfghanistan gear up for testing schedule
Afghanistan's players have kicked off a hectic couple of months with the 25-over Inter-Provincial Tournament, which started in Jalalabad last Saturday
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Afghanistan's players have kicked off a hectic couple of months with the 25-over Inter-Provincial Tournament, which started in Jalalabad last Saturday. The participation of 22 provinces in the tournament is also expected to generate interest among those following Afghan cricket. There had been a perception that the game was played almost exclusively by members of the Pashto tribe in the east of the country.
Two teams will emerge from the 12-team first round of the tournament, for the next round. The top six will contest Afghanistan's main domestic event - a 50-over tournament in Kabul in May.
The team then travels to Sri Lanka, this coming Saturday (January 2), where it will take part in a 20-man training camp till January 20. The camp is in preparation for one of the busiest periods the team has ever faced.
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