Scotland, UAE triumph in ICC Trophy

Scotland defeated Canada by 12 runs in a thrilling match while UAE raced to a five-wicket victory over slumping Singapore on the third day of the ICC Trophy here Saturday.

Five more matches were decided at different cricket centres in Toronto and its adjoining areas. Ireland cruised to an eight-wicket win over Hong Kong, Namibia trounced Germany by nine wickets, Argentina completed last-over win over East and Central Africa, Papua New Guinea held on to beat USA in a tense game and France defeated Israel with an over to spare.

At King City Stadium, the Canadians suffered their first defeat losing to Scotland who had scored 201 for eight. Brilliant catching and fine bowling from James Brinkley (2-34), Craig Wright (2-22) and Greig Williamson (3-22) saw the Scots home.

Singapore again suffered from a lack of starch in its batting as it fell to a five-wicket defeat at the hands of the United Arab Emirates.

Kiran Deshpande (35) and Zubin Schroff (34) shared a 53-run partnership for the fifth wicket as Singapore reached 191 for 9 in the stipulated 50 overs.

Muhammad Nadeem (63) and all-rounder Khuram Khan (57 not out) safely negotiated the middle stages of the UAE's innings and guided their team to victory.

Malton's first game of the tournament produced a convincing ninewicket win for Namibia over Germany.

Argentina ensured that it will record its best-ever ICC Trophy performance here in Canada when it made two wins from two matches with its four-wicket success over East and Central Africa at Ross Lord ground. Inspired by a fine innings from Simon Hewitt (52), the Frenchmen posted a three-wicket win over Israel who suffered their second defeat.

Elsewhere, it was Papua New Guinea's shock eight-run win over the United States that stole most of the attention.

On Friday, tailender Kenneth Kamyuka created history when he scored a hurricane stroke-filled century powering Uganda to 64-run victory over Malaysia.

Batting at No 10, Kamyuka scored exactly 100 runs off 54 balls lifting his side from 99 for eight to 223 for eight in allotted 50 overs. During his 71-minute stay at the crease, he hit eight sixes and four fours to the delight of enthusiastic cricket fans at Toronto's Eglington East sports ground.

Carsten Pedersen also scored a century - third of the tournament - as Denmark crushed Hong Kong by 181 runs. In other matches, United Arab Emirates were flattened by the Netherlands while USA romped to a sixwicket win over Ireland.

In Division Two's Group B match, Malaysia's twin-spin attack of Rohan Suppiah (4 for 24) and S. Vickneswaran (3 for 41) had contained the Ugandans to 99 before the arrival of Kamyuka at the crease. The latter changed the whole complexion of the game.

Batting in the style of Pakistani Shahid Afridi, Kamyuka despatched the ball to all corners of the ground reaching 100 off the last ball of the 50th over. He produced 124 in an astonishing partnership with No. 9 batsman Benjamin Musoke whose contribution was 21.

In reply, Malaysians slumped to 159, all out, in 30.2 overs with Suresh Navaratnam (46) being their top scorer.

At King City Stadium, Denmark's Pedersen showed his batting prowess as he scored 103 off 135 balls taking his team's score to 284 for six against Hong Kong. During his 180-minute innings, he scored a towering six and four hits to the rope. Pedersen's teammate Amjad Khan established his credentials as a dynamic all-rounder as he slammed 73 studded with two sixes and five boundaries. Later Khan picked up three wickets for 11 as Hong Kong crashed to 103, all out, in 29.1 overs.