Canada begins the ICC Qualifier challenge in New Zealand on Wednesday (January 15) for one of two places in the 2015 ICC World Cup against a United Arab Emirates (UAE) team that powered to a 102 run win against Nepal in Monday’s opening round of matches. The UAE struck an impressive 297 for eight wickets from 50 overs, then bowled out Nepal for 195. A fourth wicket stand of 145 runs between Shaiman Anwar (109) and Swapnil Patel (74) in 22.2 overs dominated the UAE innings. Shard Vesawkar top scored for Nepal with 54.
Hong Kong pulled off a 17 run win against Scotland on Monday. Canada is due to play Hong Kong in Group A on Friday (January 17).
Monday’s opening Group B games saw Papua New Guinea power to 250 for two in 42.5 overs to beat Kenya by eight wickets. Meanwhile the Netherlands sparked to life with a seven wicket win against Uganda. Canada had beaten the Dutch but lost to Uganda in pre-tournament warm-up games. Namibia will step onto the Group B stage on Wednesday against the Netherlands.
Irfan Ahmed scored 75 as Hong Kong posted 263 for seven against Scotland. Preston Mommsen hit 118 but no other Scottish batsman provided a significant supporting innings. Scotland was bowled out for 246 after 48.4 overs. Nadeem Ahmed took four wickets for 37. Irfan Ahmed had made useful contributions for the bat for Hong Kong during the Global phase 2009 ICC Under-19 World Cup Qualifier in the Greater Toronto Area.
In Group B, Collins Obuya hit 106 in Kenya’s 249 for nine (50 overs) but his effort with the bat proved in vain as Aasad Vala made 105 not out and Lega Siaka 103 in Papua New Guinea’s resounding response of 250 for two after 42.5 overs. Young Michael Rippon took four for 15 as Uganda was bowled out for 152 in the 47th over by the Netherlands. Roger Mukasa top-scored with 44. Wesley Baresi tallied 61 not out and Peter Borren, playing in his New Zealand country of origin, clipped 50 to carry the Netherlands to a winning 150 for three after 30.1 overs.
The top three of the five teams in each Group at the end of the opening round-robin group matches will progess to the SuperSix phase. The top two in the SuperSixes qualify for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup being hosted under the Southern Cross in Australia and New Zealand.
As previously mentioned, Canada’s Group A games begin against the Netherlands this Wednesday (Jan. 15) and continune with a game against Hong Kong on Friday (Jan 17). These two matches are scheduled for Rangiora. Canada are then scheduled to play Nepal on January 21 and Scotland on January 23 in games at the Hegley Oval, Christchurch, New Zealand.
It is vital that Canada perform well in this tournament for the future of cricket in this country. Canada’s Under-19 team will soon be playing in the ICC’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup but future development of the promising cricket base in Canada depends upon longer-term solid financing and the development of cricketing infrastructure to support the playing and development of the game in Canada.
Hopefully during 2014 the version of a Canadian “National Cricket League” that has operated on a five region basis in 2012 and 2013 will embrace a third season of operation.
Given this “five-region” approach to the National Cricket League – a concentration of playing resources with inter-region sharing of leading players aimed at providing a qualitative balance – shouldn’t consideration be given to having an overall Cricket Canada board that reflects these five regions on a qualitative and quantitative basis rather than the historic provincial basis?
After all, there was at least one Regional Championship for Eastern Canadian provinces last year before the National Cricket League. So there is potential for a regional administration in that part of the world. Hopefully the Eastern regional event will also continue in 2014. Given luck – or improved administrative support – the scorecards from the regional event might be pushed out on a timely basis to assist publicity and marketing of cricket in 2014. Perhaps the summary scores might make it into the region’s newspapers, radio or even TV newscasts and sportscasts on a timely basis, which would be good for the game, and might warm the hearts of potential sponsors.
Eddie Norfolk
Fixtures and scorecards