ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013
Scorecard USA vs Scotland
At the ICC Academy Oval 1, Scotland had no hassles in chasing USA’s 134-run target, winning by seven wickets, with seven deliveries to spare. Steven Taylor’s 55 at the top of the order, along with Timroy Allen’s unbeaten 28 off 21 balls, helped USA to 133 for 7. Iain Wardlaw finished with figures of 3 for 25 for Scotland. Scotland got off to a solid start, helped by opener Calum MacLeod’s 46. By the time he departed in the 14th over, castled by Neil McGarrell, Scotland needed just 40 runs off the last six overs. Kyle Coetzer (35*) and Rob Taylor (11*) ensured there was no further damage in knocking off the runs required.
Steven Taylor top scored for the USA with 55. Photo by Shiek Mohamed
Ireland registered a six-wicket win over Netherlands in the warm-up match of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2013 at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday (November 12), with William Porterfield’s quickfire half-century setting up a last-over triumph.
Batting first, Netherlands’ openers got off to a solid start, putting on 42 runs off just 4.4 overs, until Stephen Myburgh, the left-hand batsman was caught behind off Max Sorensen. Ireland then struck again quickly, but Netherlands was rescued from 67 for 3 by Ben Cooper (42) and Wesley Barresi (50), the opener, who put on 62 runs to take the total to a respectable 139 for 5. Alex Cusack was the pick of the bowlers, returning figures of 2 for 16.
In reply, Porterfield led from the front with an unbeaten 75 off just 58 balls. Niall O’Brien (34) gave Porterfield good support, as Ireland brought up victory with two deliveries to spare.
At the Abu Dhabi Oval 1, Papua New Guinea also won by six wickets against Uganda, chasing down Uganda’s modest total of 114 for 5 with eight deliveries to spare. Uganda was struggling at 53 for 5 when Almuzahim Saleh (42*), the right-hand batsman, along with Davis Karashani (21*), the captain, got together for an unbroken sixth-wicket partnership of 61 off 53 balls. Charles Amini impressed with his legbreaks, finishing with 2 for 20 off his four overs.
Set a relatively easy target, PNG rode home comfortably. After the early loss of Tony Ura for four, Assad Vala (24), the opener, and wicketkeeper-batsman Geraint Jones (38) put on 51 runs for the second wicket. But, after the fall of three wickets in the space of five overs, Amini and Mahuru Dai, both unbeaten on 17, ensured there were no further hiccups along the way.
Meanwhile, Nepal beat United Arab Emirates by five wickets at the ICC Academy Oval 2. Batting first, UAE posted 138 for 7, led by captain Khurram Khan’s 55. Jitendra Mukhiya took 3 for 30 in three overs with his right-arm medium-fast bowling for Nepal.
Nepal faltered early in its chase, with both the openers gone at the beginning of the fourth over. But Paras Khadka, the captain, rescued his team with an unbeaten 85 off just 62 balls, striking nine fours and four sixes. Khadka found some support in the form of Gyanendra Malla, who chipped in with 25 at No.3, as Nepal reached the target with three balls to spare. For UAE, Shadeep Silva’s economical bowling went in vain, as he returned 1 for 15 in four overs of left-arm spin.
At the Abu Dhabi Oval 2, Italy won a thriller against Bermuda by just two runs. Batting first, the middle-order came good for Italy. Carl Sandri, the right-hand batsman, top-scored with 42 off 27 balls, hitting three fours and sending two over the fence. Jacobi Robinson was the most economical of Bermuda’s bowlers, conceding just 18 runs off four overs, while picking up two wickets. Chasing a small target, Bermuda seemed to be well on its way, with 45 on the board by the end of the fifth over. But, losing six wickets for 68 runs derailed the chase. Dion Stovell, the opener, top-scored with 33 off just 17 deliveries, while Vincenzo Pennazza returned figures of 2 for 22 off four overs for Italy.