Cricket: WCL Division1, Afghanistan, Ireland and Scotland win openers
Future heroes of world cricket face off in the ICC World Cricket League Division One in the Netherlands. The League featuring six emerging cricket nations –Ireland, Afghanistan, Kenya, Canada, Scotland and the hosts Netherlands - kicked off yesterday, July 1.
Both Ireland and Afghanistan have entered the league as favourites. On the first day, Afghanistan, Ireland and Scotland prevailed in their openers getting two points each.
In the first match, favourites Afghanistan clinched a six wicket victory over the underdogs Canada in Voorburg. Afghani Captain Nawroz Mangal with an unbeaten 70, off just 58 balls, led his team to a six wicket triumph in 48.4 overs.
Canada after winning the toss decided to begin with the bat. The start of the Canadian innings was not at all impressive as they were two wickets down in the sixth over with the score at 28. But the captain Ashish Bagai took the lead and established an 88-run partnership for the second wicket stand with the opener Hiral Patel. In the 26th over Patel lost his wicket to Samiullah Shenwari. But by then Canada had entered into a safer zone (116-3). Canada lost their next two wickets shortly (Barnett 12 and Dhaniram 16). But the impressive innings of Captain Bagai, 82 off 122, helped Canada set a formidable total of 258-7. Afghanistan’s bowlers were quite generous to the opponents as they conceded 34 extras.
Admirable batting by Afghanistan helped them to prevail over a challenging target of 258 set by Canada. Half-centuries from opener Noor Ali and the third man Mohammad Shahzad along with the magnificent unbeaten 70 off 58 balls from the Captain Nawroz Mangal led Afghanistan to a six wicket victory with eight balls to spare.
Defending World Cricket League Division 1 champions, Ireland kicked off their campaign to defend the title on a on a winning note. A solid opening partnership of 87 runs along with collective bowling efforts helped Ireland defeat opponents Kenya in Rotterdam.
Trent Johnston after winning the toss offered Maurice Ouma the bat. But the Kenyan batsmen could set a total of only 163 runs. Even the third wicket stand of 44-run by Alex Obanda and Collins Obuya could not help Kenya set a formidable target. Irish bowling was tremendous. Kenya lost its last eight wickets for just 60 runs. Cusack and the captain Trent Johnson grabbed two wickets each.
In response, a 127-run stand for the second wicket between Stirling and Cusack bagged a seven-wicket win for defending champions crushing Kenyan hopes.
In the last match of day 1, Scotland prevailed in a nerve-jangling fight against hosts Netherlands in Amstelveen. Scotland clinched a one wicket win over the hosts in 49.5 overs. An average 235 chase became a formidable target for the Scottish batsmen when they lost their first six wickets for 121 runs. But the lower order held on to bag Scotland a one-wicket victory over the hosts. Bas Zuiderent’s unbeaten 55 off 34 could not help the hosts win their opener as it was not their day.
Netherlands after winning the toss decided to bat first. Tom Cooper’s 87 off 130 supported by an aggressive, unbeaten 55 off 34, from Bas Zuiderent led the hosts to set up a competitive total of 235. Gordon Drummond of Scotland was magnificent with the ball. He grabbed two wickets conceding just 27 runs at a rate of 2.7 per over.
Scotland’s start was quite shaky. The first six wickets were sacked at 121. But thanks to the lower order, that took the team to a one wicket victory on the penultimate ball of the match. Moneeb Iqbal led the recovery playing a patient innings of 63 of 92 balls, smashing three boundaries as well.
All the six teams will play their second match today. Focus of cricket fans would be on the “clash of titans”, Afghanistan Vs Ireland.
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