Italy defeats http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Usa-c759 by 51 runs in ICC World Cricket League Division Four
Clinical bowling from the Italian side consigned the United States of America their first defeat in ICC World Cricket League Division Four at Centro Sportivo Ca’Nova, Medicina on Wednesday. Chasing Italy’s 50-overs imposing total of 212, USA’s batting line was completely bowled out for just 161 runs with almost 10 over to spare.
Although the lower batting order of Italy capitulated to the bowling attack of USA, half centuries of Andy Northcote and Peter Petricola helped Italy to set a promising 200 plus total. The last seven Italian batsmen added only 22 runs to the scorecard. Andy made 72 runs off 108 balls while Petricola logged 85 individual runs. Kevin Darlington and Lennox Cush took three wickets each while Usman Shuja and Muhammad Ghous shared one wicket each from the USA’s side.
On the other hand, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Aditya-Thyagarajan-c42035’s half century didn’t prove enough to pass away the 51-run defeat for the USA with the rest of his teammates succumbing for scores just under 25. Five of the USA batsmen fell for single-digit scores. Italy’s clinical bowling was led by Gayashan Munasinghe who took three wickets conceding runs at an economy of 2.9 per over while Dilan Arsakulasuriya and Andy Northcote shared two wickets each.
The Italian captain http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Alessandro-Bonora-c43102 had earlier decided to bat first after winning the toss. Two wickets of Italy fell at an early stage as Hayden Patrizi and Nick Northcote were back in the pavilion for a combined contribution of just 3 runs. Patrizi departed on the last ball of the third over slashing Darlington to Cush. He scored only two runs from nine deliveries. Nick followed him in the fifth over after nicking the ball into the gloves of keeper Carl Wright off Usman Shuja. Nick’s departure took Peter Petricola to the crease and in partnership with Patrizi’s opening partner Andy Northcote; the pair played a string of beautifully-timed shots lifting their side to a match winning score. A flurry of sweet boundaries from Andy and Petricola eased the nerves of Italy compensating their loss of two early wickets.
Andy, in the meanwhile cruised to his half century. The American bowlers had to wait for the next 32 over for another success. Both the partners shared a 100 plus stand for the third wicket partnership taking their side from 17 for 2 to 137 for 2. Their partnership was worth 111 when Ghous earned his side the third success by having Andy caught by Sushil Nadkarni. Andy added 72 runs to the scorecard in 108 balls. His innings saw him driving the ball four times through the ropes for muscular boundary.
After Andy’s dismissal Damian Crowley joined the all-rounder Petricola to continue the assault. Both these partners shared a 35-run stand for the fourth wicket partnership. However, Crowley, who had scored 63 runs against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Argentina-c2841 the previous day, could only score 22 runs before Darlington bowled him out with a fine delivery. Italy’s fifth wicket fell when Petricola departed during the 48th over nicking Cush to Wright behind the stumps leaving the Italian side at 195 for 5. Afterwards, the last four wickets of Italy fell within the next two over for 17 runs. At the end of the allotted 50 over quota, Italy was 212 for 9.
USA’s run chase went off to a bad start with the man-of-the-match during last two matches Sushil Nadkarni losing his wicket for a second ball duck while Orlando Baker scored just 4 off 10. USA kept on losing wickets at regular intervals. Only Aditya Thyagarajan seriously faced the Italian bowling attack with a confident 92-ball 51. But with the rest of the batting line succumbing below 23, the lone fifty of Thyagarajan was not enough to overpass Italy’s 51-run victory as the whole USA team was bowled out for 161 runs. Petricola’s match-winning 85 for his team earned him the man-of-the-match title.
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