Beyond the Test World
Kuwait look to attract women players
Kuwait Cricket is aiming to attract more women cricketers and is holding selection trials at Kuwait Entertainment City cricket ground on May 9 starting at 7.00am
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Kuwait Cricket is aiming to attract more women cricketers and is holding selection trials at Kuwait Entertainment City cricket ground on May 9 starting at 7.00am. The intention is to enable a team to be sent to the Asian Twenty20 tournament in Malaysia between July 1 and 13.
Full postO’Brien charged with stun-gun attack
It’s not been a good year or two for Bermudan cricket, with poor on-field performances and lurid off-field tales dogging the side
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
It’s not been a good year or two for Bermudan cricket, with poor on-field performances and lurid off-field tales dogging the side. Hopes that the only way was up after the recent failure to qualify for the 2011 World Cup were dashed with news that fast bowler George O’Brien had been charged with using a Taser stun-gun against what local papers described as a “love rival”.
O’Brien pleased not guilty when he appeared in court, his lawyer claiming the incident was related to “matters of the heart”. The magistrate was duly unimpressed and expressed concern that O’Brien actually owned a Taser in the first place. He will stand trial in August.
O’Brien has a chequered record. In 2005 he was handed a two-year suspended ban after reportedly punching an opponent during Bermuda's Cup Match, the biggest game of the year. In 2006 he was dropped from the national side after he missed a number of training sessions and failed to impress at the ones he did attend. That led to him being excluded from the 2007 World Cup squad, and days after being left out he broke his leg playing football.
Full postUganda and Sierra Leone win through
Uganda and Sierra Leone booked their places in the Under-19 World Cup qualifying tournament later this year after finishing first and second in the Africa Under-19 Championship in Zambia
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Uganda and Sierra Leone booked their places in the Under-19 World Cup qualifying tournament later this year after finishing first and second in the Africa Under-19 Championship in Zambia. They will join Afghanistan, Hong Kong and the top two teams from the Americas, East Asia-Pacific and Europe regions in a play-off, from which the top five teams from that tournament will join the ten ICC Full Members and hosts Kenya in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup.
Uganda and Sierra Leone met in the final round of matches, and it was Uganda who won a rain-affected game despite being bowled out for 91. Chasing a revised target of 83 in 20 overs, Sierra Leone lost too many wickets too quickly and only managed 35 for 8, Geofrey Nyero returning remarkable figures of 6 for 7.
That result meant that Namibia could have overtaken Sierra Leone with an emphatic win over the hugely disappointing Kenyans, but after they had posted 158 for 7, the match was abandoned six overs into Kenya's reply. The one point Namibia earned was not enough.
Hosts Zambia finished fourth thanks to a 63-run win over Tanzania, but again the weather meant the game was decided by Duckworth-Lewis calculations. Zambia made 133 and Tanzania struggled to 42 for 7 before the rain returned.
Full postThe English lady bringing cricket to Afghanistan
Sarah Fane, chairman of Afghan Connection, meets Matthew Fleming to unveil new cricket pitches in a remote region of Afghanistan
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Sarah Fane, chairman of Afghan Connection, meets Matthew Fleming to unveil new cricket pitches in a remote region of Afghanistan
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Two Britons, an Afghan and a Swede drive 12 hours to and from a school in Andarab to deliver cricket equipment to the kids. It has been an amazing feat and journey.
We set out on a stunning dawn in Kabul with clear skies and a long road ahead. Ali, our driver, is a splendid character and drove me all around Afghanistan last year. Rotund and jolly and sporting a moustache and a heart warming smile, he is larger than life and a great companion.
We head up towards the Salang (yet again for me) and stop half way up by the river for a picnic breakfast provided by Jorgen, the Swedish Programme Director for SCA. Wonderful breakfast looking up to the snows of the Hindu Kush. Most perfect morning to see the views from the top of the pass stretching for miles along the spines and great for Matthew Fleming to have a first taste of Afghanistan beyond Kabul.
Full postSierra Leone continue to surprise
Sierra Leone continue to surprise opponents and followers of the Africa Under-19 Championship in topping the table
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Sierra Leone continue to surprise opponents and followers of the Africa Under-19 Championship in topping the table. After the fifth day they are joint-first with Namibia on eight points, but with a superior net run-rate, thanks to another win over Zambia by 85 runs. Chasing 177 Zambia were skittled for 91 with Ibrahim Kabia picking up 3 for 8. Elsewhere, Namibia thrashed Nigeria by ten wickets while Kenya – who are in a disappointing fourth position – beat Tanzania by 19 runs. Uganda pulled off a thrilling one-wicket win over Botswana when they rather underestimated their target of 114, losing nine wickets – three of them to Waseem Tajbhai. Their last pair saw them across the line, however, with overs (if not nerves) to spare.
---- Points table ----
1. Sierra Leone (8 points, NRR: 1.03)
2. Namibia (8, 0.87)
3. Uganda (6, -0.56)
4. Kenya (6, 0.10)
5. Zambia (4, -0.12)
6. Botswana (4, -0.44)
7. Tanzania (2, -0.39)
8. Nigeria (0, -2.02)
Full postHong Kong crush Afghanistan for title
Hong Kong romped to an impressively comprehensive eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in the final of the ACC Under-19 Elite Cup to book a spot at the next U-19 World Cup.
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Hong Kong romped to an impressively comprehensive eight-wicket win over Afghanistan in the final of the ACC Under-19 Elite Cup to book a spot at the next U-19 World Cup.
It brought Afghanistan cricket back down to earth after all the success for both the senior and U-19 side in recent weeks. They were supported by a vocal crowd, but Hong Kong proved too efficient in all areas of the game as they comfortably chased down 216 with three overs to spare.
James Atkinson, the captain, crunched 94 from 114 balls while Nizakat Khan made an unbeaten 46. Shakeel Haq also played his part with 51 to ensure a potentially testing target was passed with ease in a tournament where the scoring has been on the low side. Atkinson led from the front before falling 36 runs from victory and his innings earned the Man-of-the-Match award.
Afghanistan had been put on the back foot early as they slumped to 21 for 4 in the seventh over and did exceptionally well to reach 215. Asghar Hotak (70) and Zard Ali (68) held the middle order together to keep them in the contest, but there was to be no fairytale finish this time.
Full postHamilton the surprise successor to Watson
Scotland have named Gavin Hamilton, their most experienced player, as the successor to Ryan Watson, the former captain who stepped down this week in the wake of his team's failure to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Scotland have named Gavin Hamilton, their most experienced player, as the successor to Ryan Watson, the former captain who stepped down this week in the wake of his team's failure to qualify for the 2011 World Cup.
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Full postIbeju-Lekki confirm Lagos league dominance with Super 4 title
Tunde Akinleye The Iris Smart Technologies CCC Lagos League 2008-09 in Nigeria has finally drawn to a close with some interesting matches at the end
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
Tunde Akinleye
The Iris Smart Technologies CCC Lagos League 2008-09 in Nigeria has finally drawn to a close with some interesting matches at the end. GCI Old Boys Cricket Club (GCIOB) came back strongly in the second half in Division 1 to qualify for the Super 4 Tournament. The rivalry between Ibeju-Lekki Cricket Club (ILCC) and Ogun Rocks Cricket (Rocks) persisted but Rocks finished rather weakly, leaving ILCC to top the league with a 12-point margin.
The Iris Smart Technologies CCC Lagos League 2008-09 in Nigeria has finally drawn to a close with some interesting matches at the end. GCI Old Boys Cricket Club (GCIOB) came back strongly in the second half in Division 1 to qualify for the Super 4 Tournament. The rivalry between Ibeju-Lekki Cricket Club (ILCC) and Ogun Rocks Cricket (Rocks) persisted but Rocks finished rather weakly, leaving ILCC to top the league with a 12-point margin.
At the end of the league matches, the top four teams qualify for a knock-out tournament, the Super 4 Cup. In Division 2, the top four teams engage in a round-robin tournament.
This year the four teams that qualified for the Division 1 Super 4 Tournament were ILCC, Rocks, GCIOB and Howzat Pioneers (HZP). Foundation Cricket Club (FCC) were not able to sustain their past glory and finished fifth. Lagos-Asians Cricket Club (LACC) came last and will be relegated to Division 2 next season.
In the Super 4 Tournament, the rivalry between ILCC and Rocks continued as they met in a close and enthralling encounter to determine which one of them qualifies for the final. GCIOB faced up to HZP. ILCC again triumphed over Rocks whilst GCIOB saw off a close challenge from HZP which was affected by weather. ILCC and GCIOB qualified to meet in the final which traditionally marks the end of the Iris Smart Technologies CCC League season with presentations being made at the post-match event.
Full postSierra Leone top the African table
The Africa Under-19 Championship got underway this week and the big surprise from the tournament so far is the appearance of Sierra Leone at the top of the table
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The Africa Under-19 Championship got underway this week and the big surprise from the tournament so far is the appearance of Sierra Leone at the top of the table. They kicked things off by beating Kenya by four wickets then followed it up with a 10-wicket thrashing of Nigeria, who were bowled out for a paltry 44. Uganda, second-placed in the table with two wins out of three, beat Tanzania quite comfortably by six wickets, but their unbeaten run came to an end when Namibia rolled them for 128.
---Points Table (as of third day)---
1. Sierra Leone (6 points, NRR: 1.323)
2. Uganda (4, 0.986)
3. Zambia (4, 0.513)
4. Namibia (4, 0.510)
5. Botswana (4, -0.226)
6. Kenya (2, -0.289)
7. Tanzania (0, -0.864)
8. Nigeria (0, -2.158)
Full postNepal and Malaysia earn comfortable wins
Nepal beat Qatar by a convincing seven wickets to earn them third place in the first playoff of the ACC Under-19 Elite Cup
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
Nepal beat Qatar by a convincing seven wickets to earn them third place in the first playoff of the ACC Under-19 Elite Cup. Qatar were rolled over for just 142 – only Minas Khais (50 from 82) threatened to build an innings – with Prithu Baskota picking up 3 for 24. Nepal raced to their target in 37.1 overs as Gyanendra Malla smacked ten fours in his unbeaten 67.
In the day’s other playoff, Malaysia chased down 176 to comfortably beat UAE by four wickets in the 5th and 6th position playoffs. UAE only mustered 175 largely thanks to a 76-ball 75 from Taimoor Khalil, as Abdul Rashid (4 for 43) cut through the middle order. Malaysia lost six wickets in their chase, but Faris Almas made 52 while Aminuddin Ramly cracked 68 from 79 to guide them home.
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