USA Register Thumping Win Over Cayman Island

Italy and Tanzania secured its first victories of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 4 (WCL Div. 4) today while USA snapped up its second win.

Sushil Nadkarni during his knock of 84 not out. Photos courtesy of ICC.

USA defeated Cayman Islands by nine wickets and is already earning a name for itself in this tournament as a big hitting side, host Italy beat Argentina by 60 runs after putting on an impressive total of 260 at Pianoro while one of the other tournament favorites, Nepal, lost by nine runs to Tanzania.

At Bologna, Cayman Islands won the toss and elected to bat first but Saheed Mohamed’s side struggled against the medium pace of Orlando Baker (3-30) and the legbreaks’ of Nasir Javed (3-29).

Having started well with Ricardo Roach opening the batting alongside Ramon Sealy, the side failed to really fire until the arrival of Ronald Ebanks, batting seventh in the line-up, who scored a strong 46 runs off 39 balls, including two sixes and five boundaries.

The batting of the USA side proved to be too strong for the Cayman Islanders after the innings break with the side only dropping one wicket, Baker, before reaching target.

Sushil Nadkarni once again starred with the bat for the Americans, striking 84 runs off 92 balls, in an innings that saw 11 boundaries and two sixes by the 34-year-old.

Captain Steve Massiah drives in his innings of 59 not out.

Nadkarni was ably assisted by his captain Steve Massiah who added 59 runs to the total. Massiah smashed his was to the total in style with four boundaries and four sixes.

“It was great to help the side to our second victory and keep our tournament run-rate up by scoring so well in today’s game,” said man of the match Nadkarni.

“We can’t be complacent though, we play Italy tomorrow who proved too strong an opponent for Argentina today and we have to make sure we go into the game focused on taking as many wickets as possible.

Italy made amend for its defeat to Nepal on Sunday and highlighting its strong batting capabilities at the same time when it defeated Argentina by 60 runs at Pianoro.

The host put on the biggest total of the tournament so far, 262, with some impressive work by batsmen Andy Northcote (73) and Damian Crowley (63) while captain Alessandro Bonora added a spirited 37 runs.

Argentina’s bowlers managed to dismiss the side, with some hard work from fast bowlers Pablo Ryan, who picked up four wickets, and Diego Lord who took home three.

When the time came for Argentina to bat, the target proved too big for Esteban MacDermott’s side. Grant Dugmore went deep for his 59 off 76 balls but to no avail and side was dismissed in 45.1 overs.

Italy’s Hemantha Jayasena took four wickets while team-mates Gayashan Munasinghe and Dilan Fernando also lent a hand to the side to claim victory for the host nation.

Winning captain Bonora said, “It was great to win today after our disappointment against Nepal on Sunday. We really managed to show our worth when it came to batting and although we won comfortably we need to tighten up on some basics in the field.

“Andy (Northcote) and Damian (Crowley) both showed great skill out there today and I’m very happy with the effort they both put in. I am confident we’ll carry today’s positive energy into tomorrow’s game against the USA”.

Finally, Tanzania claimed its first victory of the tournament by defeating WCL Div. 5 winners Nepal by nine runs.

Nepal had a slow start to its match against a battling Tanzania side who were still smarting from its heavy defeat to the USA on Sunday.

Having lost the toss the side were asked to bat by Paras Kadka and Seif Khalifa led from the front scoring 46 runs. However none of his fellow Tanzanians sparkled with the bat and the side had to dig in to raise the total after losing three batsmen for 53 runs.

Khalifa’s efforts were aided briefly by his captain Hamisi Abdallah but after both players’ departure the side crumbled to the superb spin bowling of Nepal’s Rahul Vishvakarma.

The 17-year-old from Rupandehi took an impressive 5-18; he single-handedly claimed the last five wickets of the African team.

When the time came to bat, things did not start well for the Nepalese with both opening batsmen, Anil Mandal and Mahaboob Alam, departing without scoring a run.

Gyanendra Malla (41) and Kadka (24) were the only batsmen of note as the side struggled with the off-spin of Riziki Kiseto and the fastness of Khalil Rehmtullah.

In total, five members of the Nepal team departed without scoring a single run and after the departure of Malla in the 32nd over, the side managed to only add another 20 runs before being dismissed.

Nepal coach Roy Dias said of the defeat, “It’s very disappointing, especially to lose to Tanzania, our performance on all three aspects of the game, batting, bowling and fielding were poor.

“Our batting was particularly irresponsible, especially by the top order, which is not good enough in an event like this where we know we can do better. Tomorrow we face Argentina who we know is a good side that provided a challenge to Italy today.

“We have to forget today’s loss, move forward, go back to basics and make sure we win the next three games”.

USA vs Cayman Islands
At Bologna: Cayman Islands 181-9, 50 overs (R Ebanks 46, Roach 29; Baker 3-30, Javed 3-29)
USA 182-1, 29.3 overs (Nadkarni 84 not out, Massiah 59 not out, Baker 32)
USA won by nine wickets

Argentina vs Italy
At Pianoro: Italy 262 all out, 49.2 overs (A Northcote 73, Crowley 63, Bonora 37 not out; Ryan 4-49, Lord 3-55)
Argentina 202 all out, 45.1 overs (Dugmore 59; Jayasena 4-50, 2-27 Fernando)

Tanzania vs Nepal
At Medicina: Tanzania 117 all out, 47.3 overs (Khalifa 46; B Regmi 2-23, Vishvakarma 5-18)
Nepal 108 all out, 44.1 overs (Malla 41; Kiseto 3-19, Rehmtullah 3-25)

Fall of wickets: 1 – 23 (Sealy, 8.6), 2 – 36 (Best, 13.5), 3 – 47 (Roach, 19.3), 4 – 79 (Mohamed, 29.4), 5 – 91 (Hoilett, 35.3), 6 – 98 (Bovell, 39.3), 7 – 126 (Bazil, 43.1), 8 – 163 (Wright, 47.4), 9 – 168 (Ronald Ebanks, 49.2)

Fall of wickets: 1 – 71 (Baker, 8.6)

United States of America won by 9 wickets

Points Table