Victorian
February 8, 2018, 1:45 am
Unfortunately, Canada only had one warm up game, and that against an easy opponent. Some, or all, of the other teams had some good preparation - Kenya against Zimbabwe A (blown out 4 times), Namibia playing in South Africa (one-day and 1st class and they've won some), Nepal vs. UAE, and some of these teams were in the recent WCLC. My hopes are not high for Canada in this tournament but maybe they won't finish last and the ICC hasn't decided what the near future looks like for top Associates.
#1
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Ray
February 8, 2018, 8:49 am
Canada off to a winning start with a surprisingly easy victory over Oman, a team which had been more active over the last few months. Based on the start to WCL2 and WCL3 previously, the form of teams prior to these big tournaments has little to do with how they actually perform. It seems WCL2 is wide open. If Canada get hot they can succeed.
Other that being a pathway to the World Cup Qualifier, is there any significance to the 2018 WCL2? Does it decide any of the participants in the next Intercontinental Cup (if that tournament is to continue) or will that be decided after the next cycle of the World Cricket League(2018 WCL4, 2018 WCL3, ???? WCL2). This is very poorly explained by the ICC.
#2
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Victorian
February 9, 2018, 1:18 am
I think that no one knows the ramifications of this tournament. Placement could affect funding and activity. I've always thought that Oman would turn out to be the classic Golden Generation. I don't think they'll advance from this tournament. I was afraid that Canada might be the weakest team but I do think they can compete with Kenya, Namibia and Nepal so they might be alright.
#3
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Victorian
February 9, 2018, 1:21 am
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/login/?next=ht ... ">Yashasvi Raj Pant
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Emerging Cricket Forum - Fans for an Expanded World Cup</a>
26 mins ·
The 3rd/4th teams of division 2 and the 9th/10th teams of WCQ (unless they are test nations or Netherlands) will have most probably the same status as both former and latter will play Intercontinental Cup as well as WCLC(though no any confirmed news yet from ICC).
#4
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Ray
7 Posts
February 9, 2018, 11:52 am
Canada remarkably find themselves at 2-0 after defeating one of the strongest teams in WCL2 in the UAE. A very even batting contribution throughout the order for Canada still left them with a challenging score to defend. The spinners were very effective in slowing UAE's progress with vital wickets. If Gunasekera's stint in Sri Lanka has done nothing else, it helped him emerge as a very useful bowler.
With the reversal of fortunes of Oman and Nepal from their opening matches, Canada are at the top of the standings. They are likely one win away from safety although the team, quite rightly, will see themselves as challengers for one of the 2 WCQ places. Not sure how many would have said that when the tournament began (not me
).#5
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Ray
7 Posts
February 12, 2018, 12:09 pm
Canada gets the win over Kenya then goes down fighting to the desperate home team. At 3-1, the final round robin match will determine whether they continue in pursuit of World Cup qualification. Nepal will be a tricky opponent and it may come down to who wants WCQ more.
Regardless, Canada are safe from relegation and have to hope they've done enough to be part of whatever cricket the ICC decides to make available to the top associates. Winning Wednesday's match with Nepal would probably help that cause.
#6
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Ray
February 14, 2018, 1:21 pm
A middle of the pack finish for Canada at WCL2 against four fairly active/experienced sides from the WCL Championship and Intercontinental Cup seemed like a good outcome at the start. On the final day of the round-robin, it now seems like a failure. Missing two chances to qualify for WCQ and perhaps securing additional ICC funding for the next four years now looks like a terrible waste of a 3-0 start. Canada's goes back into the WCL mix awaiting the next WCL2 competition. They will have to somehow get even better and maybe next time they can still be promoted to WCL championship (?)
#7
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Victorian
February 14, 2018, 6:31 pm
Maybe (?) the top four from this tournament will be in a WCLC? There might also be an Auty Cup coming which I guess might have a T20 component if an Americas qualifier is taking place.
#8
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Victorian
February 15, 2018, 6:42 pm
Dutta, Tariq and Gunasekera named to the Tournament XI. I hope it leads to further opportunities for them. Good win against Namibia for 3rd.
#9
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Ray
February 15, 2018, 9:06 pm
Very nice to see three Canadians that came through the U19 program named to the WCL2 XI.
Dutta really emerged in this tournament. Ravindu and Kumar started very well but faded a bit in the final critical matches. Adhihetty has to be more consistent but there is no reason he cannot be a big contributor as in the last WCL3.
#10
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Victorian
February 16, 2018, 3:54 am
Furthermore, Wijeratne had the only century of the tournament, and Canada, batting first, can thank the 140-run partnership – the highest of the tournament – by Nicholas Kirton (73, 111b, 4x4, 1x6) and Navneet Dhaliwal (78, 84b, 4x4, 2x6) for getting to 247 for four in 50 overs.
#11