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.

Strong favourites at the outset, Bahamas were made to work hard by the organised Panama outfit, and there were moments throughout the contest when Panama had a chance.

After electing to bat first at Snellen Park, Panama made a confident start and by the 32nd over were in a strong position at 141 for 3. Openers Soyab Chohan (30) and Nilesh Bhakta (37) added 52, and a total of 250 was on the cards. However the introduction of Jonathan Barry turned the innings around. With his second ball he removed Irfan Tarajia (27) and proceeded to wreck the middle and lower order, finishing with outstanding figures of 5 for 14 from four overs as Panama lost their last seven wickets for 13.

Continue reading "Bahamas continue to set the pace"

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 and Caicos Islands.

Playing on the impressive new Owru Kul oval, Suriname won the toss and looked to have made the best of the decision by reducing Panama to 26 for 3 after deciding to bowl. However man of the match Irfan Tarajia put up stubborn resistance while mixing caution and aggression, to register the first century of the tournament. Tarajia made 102 off 147 balls, including seven fours and seven sixes.

Continue reading "Panama and Bahamas find form"

Bermuda won the World Cricket League Americas Division 1 Championship for the first time. Canada has two previous wins and the USA won once. Bermuda took the title thank's to Canada's ten-wicket win over the USA last Saturday. The Cayman Islands beat Argentina on Saturday and this ensured they qualify for the Global Division 3 section of the World Cricket League in 2007.

Bermuda and Canada had already qualified for the Global World Cricket League (WCL) Division 1 as a result of their rankings in the 2005 ICC Trophy in Ireland. WCL Division 1 is in Kenya in January 2007. The USA will be in WCL Global Division 3.

Bermuda ended the Americas championship with three wins and one no-result for a total of 14 points. USA were second (two wins, one loss, one no result for 10 points). Canada came third edging out Cayman Islands on net run-rate (difference betwen rate of a team scoring runs when batting, and conceding runs when bowling). Both teams had two wins and two losses. Argentina came last with five losses.

The player of the tournament was US captain Steve Massiah, who also won the batting award for his 283 runs in 4 matches. Ronald Ebanks (Cayman) took the bowling award for 10 wickets. Bermuda took the fielding prizes with Stephen Outerbridge (fielder) and Kwame Tucker (wicketkeeper) getting the honours. Regular Bermuda wicketkeeper Dean Minors had to return home due to an illness in the family.

	John Davison watches his match-winning stroke go to the boundary to give Canada a 10-wicket win over USA © Eddie Norfolk

Davison won the toss and put USA in to bat, which proved to be a fine decision and the Canadian bowling contained the might of the USA top order, who had pummeled the bowlers in their previous matches.

Continue reading "Bermuda bag title after Canada's win"

	Sushil Nadkarni cuts during his 83 against Bermuda © Eddie Norfolk

A partnership of 168 runs in 24 overs between Sushil Nadkarni (83) and captain Steve Massiah (81) set the USA on their way to a large total but two rain interruptions meant their innings was eventually deemed to have closed after the second stoppage. The USA made 213 for 4 in just under 35 overs.

Continue reading "Rain halts Bermuda's progress"

Canada won their first game of the tournament, beating Argentina by 9 wickets in a rain interrupted match. Canada were required to score 137 in 33 overs, following a disruption to their innings. John Davison, the captain, made an attacking 53 off 34 balls and Sandeep Jyoti made an undefeated 46 in miserable conditions. Canada bowled fairly tidily in restricting Argentina to 182 for the loss of 8 wickets in 50 overs. Opening bowler Steve Welsh bowled a tidy spell, conceding just 18 runs in his 10 overs and picking up two wickets. Alejandro Ferguson top-scored for Argentina with an unbeaten 49.

Eddie Norfolk

The United States cruised to a comfortable seven-wicket win over Argentina on the third day of the Americas Championship at Maple Leaf CC in Toronto, Canada, and in doing so set up a potential championship decider with Bermuda on Friday.

Continue reading "USA set up Bermuda showdown"

	Bermuda's Lionel Cann slams one of his five sixes during his undefeated 139 © Eddie Norfolk

Continue reading "Canada sink to a new low"