Brazier bowls PNG to third straight win

Papua New Guinea won their third match in a row, defeating Uganda by 26 runs at Belgrano.

Uganda, having chosen to field, did well to dismiss PNG for 165 inside 50 overs but failed in their chase of a small total. Kenneth Kamyuka struck with the new ball and then at the death to pick up 3 for 21 and each of the other bowlers also struck in an efficient display in the field. Peter Moide made an unbeaten 43 from 83 balls, the highest score of a disappointing innings, and with Mahuru Dai (27) helped lift the innings from 75 for 5.

In reply, Uganda lost an early wicket at 9 and proceeded to fumble. From 67 for 3 they slipped to 85 for 7, with Jamie Brazier, the offspinner, netting economic figures of 10-4-16-4. Kamyuka's unbeaten 34 down the order was the best of Uganda's innings, and they were bowled out for 139 in the 43rd over.

Martin Gleeson, PNG's coach, was delighted that his side had managed to secure a surprise win. "It was a great result for us. There is still a bit of work to do and there is some room for improvement, but we have got the bowling right," he said. "We are very disciplined and we have worked very hard on our bowling. We have good variety, with pace, spin and some medium-pace and have worked on getting the right line and length."

PNG continue to lead the points table.

Afghanistan picked up their second win after pipping Argentina by 19 runs at the Hurlingham Club Ground. Electing to bat, Afghanistan had been put under early pressure by Argentina's bowlers and the opener Ahmad Shah's 44 was the highest score out of 164. It was the third consecutive time in this tournament that Afghanistan failed to bat out the full 50 overs. For Argentina, their player-coach Hamish Barton was in outstanding form, taking 3 for 12 off his 10 overs, including four consecutive maidens.

Barton, who later opened the innings, made 33 before a dramatic collapse at the hands of the spinners Ahmad Shah (2 for 21) and Mohammad Nabi (2 for 24). Argentina were bowled out 145 in the 47th over.

The Afghanistan coach Kabir Khan praised a "true Afghan spirit" after the dramatic win. "The best thing about our team is that they are fighting back when the game seems to be slipping out of our hands," said Kabir. "They never give up, they just keep on fighting.

"Anybody can beat anybody else in this tournament and that is why it is still wide open and we need to work hard to get our place in the final two," said Kabir. "If we can beat PNG it will gave us the confidence to go into the game against the tournament's weakest team but the Cayman Islands have done really well in the last few years and you never know what they are going to do against us."

At St Albans Club, Hong Kong handed Cayman Islands its third straight defeat to keep Tabarak Dar's dream of ICC Cricket World Cup qualification alive. Manoj Cheruparambil's 85 helped Hong Kong to 210 in 46.3 overs, with good support from fellow opener Roy Lamsam (60), and in a regular flurry of wickets Cayman Islands were dismissed for 161. Zain Abbas (4 for 28) was the pick of the bowlers.