Beyond the Test World
Missed opportunity for Fiji in EAP Trophy
Fiji missed a priceless opportunity to beat their main opposition for the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Trophy, losing to Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 37 runs in the opening game of the 50-over section in Apia, Samoa
Cricinfo
25-Feb-2013
Fiji missed a priceless opportunity to beat their main opposition for the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Trophy, losing to Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 37 runs in the opening game of the 50-over section in Apia, Samoa.
PNG were wallowing at 45 for 6 before a timely rain delay provided a chance to regroup. On their return, wicketkeeper Arua Dikana and Loa Noa put on a valuable 40-run partnership to give the tournament favourites a total of 117, one its bowlers could defend.
Earlier, PNG had started positively, but the tournament favourites came unstuck due to some tight bowling and keen fielding from Fiji. Three wickets, including two run-outs, and then a brace of wickets to left-armer Sakaraia Lomani had PNG struggling, before rain held up play. Lomani finished with 3 for 31 from eight overs as Fiji were left chasing a reduced total of 108 from 43 overs.
The Barramundi pace attack of Willie Gavera, Loa Nou and debutante Pipi Raho shook the Fijian top order. When two quick wickets fell after the lunch break, Fiji were 27 for 6 and a PNG win was inevitable. Raho bowled well to make early breakthroughs to finish with 5 for 18 from five overs.
Full postPapua New Guinea bag Twenty20 title
Tony Munro
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Papua New Guinea, as expected, comfortably won the Twenty20 event of the East Asia-Pacific Trophy in Samoa, beating Fiji by 101 runs in the final. The regional heavyweights smashed 208 from their allotted 20 overs, with captain Chris Amini belting 82 off 50 balls. He was joined by Jeremiah Nigani (80) in a 148-run partnership which helped PNG set Fiji a stiff asking rate.
The Fijian reply was in reverse before it started when Jojo Baba was run out off the first ball of the innings. Another key Fiji batsman was soon gone when Joe Rika was hit on the foot by the fast bowler Willie Gavera and forced to retire hurt.
Iniasi Cakacaka added some punch to the Fijian innings, hitting 60 including five sixes and six fours. Earlier in the day, Baba showed what might have been in the last of Fiji's preliminary matches when he struck an unbeaten 103 against Indonesia. Fiji hit 197 for 1 before restricting Indonesia to 92 for 6 from its 20 overs.
Full postTwenty20 to kick off East Asia-Pacific Trophy
Tony Munro
Kanishkaa Balachandran
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
The East Asia-Pacific Trophy, the regional tournament for the ICC's development zone of that name, starts today in Apia, Samoa. The format has been tweaked with the addition of a Twenty20 event, in which all eight times will take part, while the 50-over competition has been split into two divisions.
The Twenty20 event kicks off the tournament, with the teams divided into two groups - Group A comprising Papua New Guinea (PNG), Japan, the Cook Islands and Tonga, while Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and Indonesia will contest Group B.
The First Division will feature just the three teams already playing in the World Cricket League - PNG, Fiji and Japan. Both PNG and Japan are without key players, giving Fiji its best chance to win the regional title for the first time.
Full postPNG score emphatic wins
Tony Munro
George Binoy
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Papua New Guinea demonstrated why they are the favourite for the East Asia-Pacific Trophy with crushing ten-wicket wins in both its Twenty20 matches on day one of the tournament in Apia, Samoa on Thursday.
Fielding a new look combination, PNG routed Japan for 20 in their morning match, needing just 2.5 overs to seal the win. They then skittled the Cook Islands for 42, requiring only 4.2 overs to finish the day unbeaten.
PNG fast bowler Willie Gavera capitalised on early wickets from captain Chris Amini to finish the Japan innings, collecting a haul of 4 for 3 from four overs. Japan allrounder, Cheema Razaq, who bats right-handed and bowls left-handed, was his team's top scorer with 7.
Full postBright and sunny for Samoan cricket
The sport is booming - the number of teams competing in primary and secondary schools have trebled, the under-15 team just did well at the regional titles in Jakarta and 14 teams just played in the national village championships
Tony Munro
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
These are exciting times for cricket in Samoa. The sport is booming - the number of teams competing in primary and secondary schools have trebled, the under-15 team just did well at the regional titles in Jakarta and 14 teams just played in the national village championships.
And starting tomorrow, Samoa take on seven national teams from the Near East and the Pacific on home turf for the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Trophy.
For the first time, Twenty20, the format most resembling Kilikiti - the traditional Pacific Islands version of the game - has been included in the regional championships, alongside the usual 50-over format.
Full postMissing cricketers leave authorities fuming
Things go from bad to worse for Ugandan cricket and, by association, for the dreams of many young cricketers across Africa, with an admission that seven players, and not six as first reported , went missing at the end of the ICC Under-19 World Cup
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Things go from bad to worse for Ugandan cricket and, by association, for the dreams of many young cricketers across Africa, with an admission that seven players, and not six as first reported, went missing at the end of the ICC Under-19 World Cup Qualifier in Toronto.
Reaction back at home has not been good. Former Uganda board chairman Abbey Lutaya said it was “a great setback for Ugandan sport”. He continued: “It is indeed a big step backwards to the many achievements cricket had attained. Uganda have worked hard on the cricket front and with the hard work almost bearing fruit, these little boys decide to spoil everything now,”
“They are so talented and it is catastrophic that not one but seven of them decide to vanish.”
Cassim Suliman, chief executive of the Africa Cricket Association, said he was “not happy”, adding: "It sets a bad precedent and basically we need to somehow look at countering this by getting other measures in place."
The Uganda Cricket Assocation has asked the Canadian authorities to repatriate the missing players as and when they are found.
Full postNamibia boosted by sponsorship renewal
Cricket Namibia has announced a three-year extension to its sponsorship deal with MTC which is believed to be worth around N$2.5 million (US$340,000) a year.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Cricket Namibia has announced a three-year extension to its sponsorship deal with MTC which is believed to be worth around N$2.5 million (US$340,000) a year.
The partnership, which has already been running for six years, “has lifted the standard and profile of the game in Namibia through ever increasing numbers of players participating in cricket throughout the country,” said board president Francois Erasmus.
The sponsorship covers the costs of the national team’s participation in the South African competitions as well as the grass roots cricket, infrastructure development, national leagues, and payments to senior players and management.
Full postTanzania boosted by Watford connection
The Tanzania Cricket Association has revealed that several of its players have spent the summer honing their skills with a club side in Watford, England.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The Tanzania Cricket Association has revealed that several of its players have spent the summer honing their skills with a club side in Watford, England.
“We've the most brilliant guys as compared to other countries, so it's down to us to drill them thoroughly," board chairman Zulfikar Rhemtullah said. “We're eagerly waiting for them and it's our hope that the quartet will steer the national team to glory.
“They've learnt a lot in England and through them, other local lads will learn some advanced techniques.”
Full postA review of the Austrian season
Off-the-field problems and a desire to complete the league season before the ICC Division 4 Championship in Cyprus resulted in a changed format and a smaller number of teams in the Open League competition in 2009
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
Neil Foster
Off-the-field problems and a desire to complete the league season before the ICC Division 4 Championship in Cyprus resulted in a changed format and a smaller number of teams in the Open League competition in 2009. Initially, the twelve teams were split into two groups, with teams from Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Velden and Ljubljana (Slovenia) competing for a place in the Super Sixes. The National League was dominated by reigning champions Pakistan CC (PCC), while Lords CC (LCC) took the honours in the Austrian Conference.
PCC were again dominant in the Super Sixes stage, setting themselves up for a semi-final clash against Pakistan Falken CC, while LCC met Vienna CC (VCC). The first semi-final was played on a cold, wet day with the ball dominating the bat. Batting first, PCC were immediately under pressure at 50 for 5 and 100 for 8 later. However, the last two wickets managed to get them to a total of 170, and give their bowlers something to work with. PCC were superb during the reply, dismissing Pakistan Falken CC for 46.
Tight bowling from LCC in the second semi-final made it difficult for the VCC batsmen, but while wickets fell at regular intervals, some hard hitting at the end of the innings saw them reach a respectable 281 for 8. LCC then had the worst possible start and at 36 for 5, the game was all but lost. A solid partnership between Nandeep Soggi and Sukhvir Hira made the score look respectable, but once Nandeep was out for 58, the rest soon followed.
Full postHong Kong get a new home
The Hong Kong Cricket Association has announced it has finally found a new home after several years of negotiations.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
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The Hong Kong Cricket Association has announced it has finally found a new home after several years of negotiations.
The location is at Kai Tak, site of the former airport in Kowloon, and the ground is being leased from the government. The Asian Cricket Council will provide most of the funding, estimated at US$210,000, and it is expected to be finished around September 2010.
The three-acre site will have a main artificial pitch plus two more at the side. The aim is to have all pitches in use at weekends for men’s, women’s and juniors’ cricket among Hong Kong’s 27 clubs.
The new venue will not be suitable for international matches – they will be staged at another new ground at Mission Road in Kowloon.
Full post