The first innings lead points gained by Canada against the United Arab Emirates from the recent ICC Intercontinental Cup (“I-Cup”) with the UAE bring a possible ray of light. Additional points were awarded to both Canada and the UAE due to the loss of playing time in that match.
Canada (now on 23 points) has the chance to overtake the Netherlands (36 points) in the standings with a maximum points win when the teams meet at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City, Ontario next week (August 22-25). To gain maximum points, Canada would need to lead on first innings (6 points) and win the game outright (14 points). If the Dutch gain points for a first innings lead, then Canada could not take seventh place in the standings.
In the “hope springs eternal” category, an outright win for Canada against the Dutch would bring at least a short-term fifth place in the standings as the UAE and Kenya do not play in the seventh round until late September and early October, respectively. The right outcomes from a Canadian perspective in the Afghanistan-Kenya and UAE-Namibia matches could see Canada finish fifth, which might be a bit too much to hope or expect.
But the Dutch may also have ideas about a maximum points win to bring confidence and hope for the future. The Dutch will certainly be seeking wins in both the Pepsi World Cricket League games against Canada in the hope of automatic qualification for the next ICC Cricket World Cup, but that’s a story for another day.
2011-2013 ICC Interrcontinental Cup points table (after six rounds):

Team M W L T D Ab Pts Quotient
Ireland 6 4 0 0 0 0 96 1.830
Afghanistan 6 4 0 0 0 0 84 1.168
Scotland 6 2 1 0 2 1 66 1.074
Namibia 6 3 2 0 1 0 57 1.047
Kenya 6 1 4 0 0 1 42 0.749
U.A.E. 6 1 1 0 4 0 40 0.836
Netherlands 6 0 3 0 2 1 36 0.800
Canada 6 0 4 0 1 1 23 0.741
Note: Standings as per ICC Media Release dated August 12, 2013.
Seventh round matches – 2011-2013 ICC Intercontinental Cup
22-25 Aug – Canada v Netherlands, Maple Leaf CC, King City, Toronto
11-14 Sep – Ireland v Scotland, Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland
22-25 Sep – UAE v Namibia, Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
6-9 Oct – Afghanistan v Kenya, GCA 1, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City

[EN comments, with standings and schedule of remaining matches as per ICC, Dubai]