Beyond the Test World
Kenya lose to club side
Kenya’s preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers took a dent when they were well beaten by an Abeed Janmohamed XI at Cranleigh School
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Kenya’s preparations for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers took a dent when they were well beaten by an Abeed Janmohamed XI at Cranleigh School. Janmohamed, who played for Kenya in 2004-05, led a strong side which included New Zealand’s Grant Elliott.
Kenya started well, reaching 81 for 1 before suffering a mid-innings collapse that left them 133 for 6 off 34 overs. Alex Obanda made a confident fifty but there was little else of note, and Steve Tikolo made only 1. Teenger Phil Roper, like Janmohamed, a product of Cranleigh School, took 2 for 20 off 10 overs, while Luke Woodcock returned 3 for 18. In the end, Kenya limped to 162 all out in 43 overs.
Elliott smashed 77 as Kenya’s bowlers were struck to all parts, while Seren Waters made 47. Waters, the son of former Kenya chief selector David Waters, left Cranleigh earlier this month and made the second-highest number of runs in the school’s history in 2008. He has already represented Surrey 2nd XI. Janmohamed’s side romped to a five-wicket win.
Twenty-four hours later, Kenya got back on track with a win at Hove against Guernsey, but again the side ranked as the leading Associate were forced to struggle after being bowled out for 194. Tikolo again failed, making 4, as Kenya slipped to 51 for 4 before Thomas Odoyo (61) bailed them out. Guernsey never challenged after being reduced to 40 for 6, although they did well to make 122 in 44.4 overs.
Full postSheikh too good for Denmark
Qasim Sheikh hit an unbeaten 80 to guide Scotland to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Denmark at Malahide
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Qasim Sheikh hit an unbeaten 80 to guide Scotland to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Denmark at Malahide. Scotland's target was adjusted under the D/L method as rain interrupted the chase after 28 overs, but they were well on course at 151 for 3. Ryan Watson (34) provided good support in a second-wicket stand of 70 and Neil McCallum helped complete the victory with a run-a-ball 22. Denmark wasted a solid position after Carsten Pedersen (72) and Soren Vestergaard (50) added 99 for the third wicket. Three run-outs didn't help their cause, while Scotland's death bowling also held firm.
Full postItaly grab Dutch scalp
Italy registered a notable scalp on the opening day of the European Championships Division 1 as they beat Netherlands by eight runs at North County in Dublin
Andrew McGlashan
25-Feb-2013
Italy registered a notable scalp on the opening day of the European Championships Division 1 as they beat Netherlands by eight runs at North County in Dublin. Joe Scuderi, the former Lancashire allrounder, hit an unbeaten 84 to steer Italy to 181, which proved too much for their higher-ranked opponents. Tim de Groot hit 51, but he lacked support and the lower order couldn't quite see the chase home as Netherlands were bowled out with more than six overs remaining.
Full postFlorida to host West Indies tournaments
It is being reported in the Caribbean that the KFC Cup, the region's premier limited-overs competition, will he held in Florida.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
It is being reported in the Caribbean that the KFC Cup, the region's premier limited-overs competition, will he held in Florida.
Trinidad & Tobago's Newsday claimed that a senior West Indies board official said the event would be staged in Fort Lauderdale where a new purpose-built stadium has recently opened. The seating capacity is 5000 but there is room for more on grass banks.
In a further bid to attract local interest Canada and USA will be invited to participate. Canada played without any real distinction in 1995-96 and 2002-03 while USA took part in 2000-01 and scored a surprise win over Barbados.
The event has been brought forward to October because if held at its usual time it would clash with the multi-million dollar Stanford match against England.
Full postUAE start as favourites for ACC trophy
The top sides in Asia outside of the Test arena gather in Malaysia for the highly anticipated ACC Trophy
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The top sides in Asia outside of the Test arena gather in Malaysia for the highly anticipated ACC Trophy. While the UAE starts the event as strong favourites, having not lost a single match since 2000 in this tournament, they are likely to face some tough competition at the event.
Afghanistan
Packed with talent and strong in batting, bowling and with a great desire to succeed, Afghanistan are rated by many as being the one team capable of defeating the UAE. Led by ‘Iceman’ spin-bowling allrounder Nowroz Mangal and backed up by the pace of Hamid Hassan and allround abilities of Mohammad Nabi, (who have both played for the MCC) it has quality in the right areas. Afghanistan’s success at the ICC World Cricket League Division Five in Jersey in May has also shown they can deal with the pressure of the big occasion.
Packed with talent and strong in batting, bowling and with a great desire to succeed, Afghanistan are rated by many as being the one team capable of defeating the UAE. Led by ‘Iceman’ spin-bowling allrounder Nowroz Mangal and backed up by the pace of Hamid Hassan and allround abilities of Mohammad Nabi, (who have both played for the MCC) it has quality in the right areas. Afghanistan’s success at the ICC World Cricket League Division Five in Jersey in May has also shown they can deal with the pressure of the big occasion.
Bahrain
Finding their way back into the top-flight of ACC competition after a period in the wilderness, Bahrain may not yet quite be back at their 2006 ACC Trophy best when they lost a close quarter-final to Nepal. That year they also won the ACC Middle East Cup beating Afghanistan in the Final. Many of those players from are back in 2008.
Finding their way back into the top-flight of ACC competition after a period in the wilderness, Bahrain may not yet quite be back at their 2006 ACC Trophy best when they lost a close quarter-final to Nepal. That year they also won the ACC Middle East Cup beating Afghanistan in the Final. Many of those players from are back in 2008.
Hong Kong
Fresh from the Asia Cup, where their spinners had Pakistan at 161 for 7 at one stage and also troubled India’s batsmen, Hong Kong are quietly confident of being able to reach the final for the second consecutive tournament. An excellent side with an optimal blend of youth and experience, they may be that their spinners who again do the job for them on Malaysian wickets.
Full postFresh from the Asia Cup, where their spinners had Pakistan at 161 for 7 at one stage and also troubled India’s batsmen, Hong Kong are quietly confident of being able to reach the final for the second consecutive tournament. An excellent side with an optimal blend of youth and experience, they may be that their spinners who again do the job for them on Malaysian wickets.
Boards reaffirm commitment to Associates
The ICC and ECB have reaffirmed their support for the mandatory release of Associate players from county cricket to take part in international matches and the priority of FTP events.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The ICC and ECB have reaffirmed their support for the mandatory release of Associate players from county cricket to take part in international matches and the priority of FTP events.
This followed discussions and correspondence between the ICC president, David Morgan, and the new CEO, Haroon Lorgat, with Giles Clarke, the ECB chairman, and ECB chief executive David Collier.
"The full commitment of the ECB to work with counties to support the ICC Board's mandatory release policy for Associate players is great news and very welcome," Morgan said. "It will help to ensure that when the top Associates have ODIs against Full Members or compete in next month's ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast they have their top players available.
"In terms of the ICC WT20 Qualifier, that will make sure the best teams reach next year's event, rather than the teams with the most top players available on that weekend in August, something that will then have a knock-on effect of enhancing next year's event.
Full postEstonia win Euro Twenty20 invitational
It’s been a good week for Estonia, with membership to the ICC closely followed by being crowned Euro Twenty20 champions at the weekend
ESPNcricinfo staff
25-Feb-2013
It’s been a good week for Estonia, with membership to the ICC closely followed by being crowned Euro Twenty20 champions at the weekend. The final of the invitational competition was a close affair, but they beat the Czech Republic by four wickets with one ball remaining.
Croatia, who are in European Division Two, came fourth although they didn’t have their best team out. They lost the third place play-off to the Wisniewski XI, who were representing Poland.
The 5th and 7th place play-offs were washed out.
Full postUmpiring seminar in Suriname
The Suriname Cricket Association, with the assistance of the Guyana Umpiring Association, organised a four-day Umpiring Seminar in Paramaribo, from June 12 to 15
Will Luke
25-Feb-2013
The Suriname Cricket Association, with the assistance of the Guyana Umpiring Association, organised a four-day Umpiring Seminar in Paramaribo, from June 12 to 15. The seminar leader was the renowned international umpire, Mr Clyde Duncan, assisted by two other qualified Guyanese umpires, Mr. Daveteerth Anandjit and Mr. Andrew Allen.
The seminar was arranged to have umpire students from both Nickerie and Paramaribo. Thirteen were trained in both the laws of the game, the technicalities and scoring. This training was in preparation for participants to take the umpiring examination to be held in Guyana on July 27, 2008.
Suriname are hoping to have at least three candidates for this examination and expect to have a follow-up seminar prior to this examination, to be held in Nickerie.
Full postICC agree to Twenty20 play-off
The ICC has announced a revised schedule for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast next month.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
The ICC has announced a revised schedule for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in Belfast next month.
The tournament, involving the six leading Associate teams - Bermuda, Canada, Ireland, Kenya, the Netherlands and Scotland - will now take place from August 2 to 5, with a fourth day included to allow room for a third and fourth-place play-off.
Full postScotland and Ireland miss out
Although the ECB has told Cricinfo that no plans have been made to identify the two additional sides joining the 18 first-class counties in the new EPL, Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith had said that he does not expect his side to be one of them.
Martin Williamson
25-Feb-2013
Although the ECB has told Cricinfo that no plans have been made to identify the two additional sides joining the 18 first-class counties in the new EPL, Scotland chief executive Roddy Smith had said that he does not expect his side to be one of them.
It is widely believed that one slot will be filled by a team belonging to Allen Stanford, as part of his recent multi-million pound deal with the ECB. Despite media speculation that the other could come from Australia, county sources have indicated to Cricinfo that they believe the second side could come from the IPL for commercial reasons, assuming some deal could be agreed with the BCCI.
"Ourselves and Ireland both applied to the ECB about being involved in the EPL but were unsuccessful in doing so," Smith told The Scotsman. "For us it wasn't to be, which is fair enough. The ECB are under no obligation to do anything for us."
Full post