Beyond the Test World

Nigeria have won the second North West African Championships following a narrow one-wicket win over their arch-rivals, Sierra Leone, in the final match of the five-nation tournament in Lagos on Thursday.

Hot on the heels of their new Twenty20 competition , Bermuda have launched a new tournament: Five-Five.

New Zealand Cricket has announced the winners of the first Development Awards which recognise the efforts of volunteers in school and club cricket.

The first matches in New York’s Department of Education new cricket league got underway in Queens with teams from John Adams, Richmond Hill, Aviation and Newcomers High Schools.

The annual three-day match, the highlight of Argentine cricket which has been played for many years, was rained out on two consecutive weekends so the captains decided to play a 50-over friendly game.

Canadian Cricket Association has finally had its name officially changed to Cricket Canada

Nicaragua acted as hosts for the first tri-nation tournament with visitors El Salvador and Costa Rica, who emerged winners

Following on the heels of the ICC becoming an IOC recognized federation, the Brazilian Cricket Association has now been officially recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of Sport, which opens the door to a number of important support programs.

The Bermuda Cricket Board is to launch a new Twenty20 competition, with the island divided into four zones consisting of four teams each

Suriname provided a major upset on the final day of the ICC Americas Division 2 Championship, not only beating odds-on favourites Bahamas but also leapfrogging them to the title and promotion to Division One.

Rwanda's cricketers have been boosted by two new sponsors ahead of next week’s ICC World Cricket League Division 3 tournament in Johannesburg.

On day two of the ICC Americas WCL Division Two Championship, Bahamas virtually ensured they would claim the title and promotion to the Americas Division One tournament later in the year, when they beat a spirited Panama by six wickets .

On the first day in the ICC Americas WCL Division Two Championship, taking place in Paramaribo, Suriname, the hosts failed in an exciting run-chase to overcome a tidy Panama side, while strong pre-tournament favourites Bahamas hammered the Turks

Nigeria opened the North West African Championships with a crushing win against Gambia and Sierra Leone beat Ghana on the second day.

Tony Munro

An excellent piece in today's Daily Telegraph highlights the growing interest of cricket among schoolchildren in New York:

From 8th to 11th Dec 2007 Cricket Kenya hosted the U15 boys and women’s open tournament in Nairobi, under the umbrella of Africa Cricket Association (ACA)

DOMESTIC LEAGUE

The Uganda Cricket Association hosted a touring side from The Marylebone Cricket Club form 13th February through to 1st March 2008

Uganda Cricket Association hosted the AfriPals Cricket team from Kenya over the Easter Weekend, 21st – 25th March 2008