Hooper stars with bat and ball as Guernsey win Group A; Master’s class as Botswana beat Fiji
Norway beat the Cayman Islands in a game that went to the final ball to set up a semi-final date with Guernsey at Frinton-on-Sea on Friday. Norway captain Raza Iqbal (84) and Suhail Ifthikar (63) helped Norway to a total of 252-8. The Cayman Islands started slowly in reply with just 24 runs in the first ten overs but Sacha DeAlwis worked the run rate up before he was dismissed for 40 and then they began their chase in earnest. Ramon Sealy smashed his way to a quick 50 and went on to score 84 before he was run out and Cayman Islands were left needing 15 off the last over - the same amount Norway had scored off of their final over.
Norway beat the Cayman Islands in a game that went to the final ball to set up a semi-final date with Guernsey at Frinton-on-Sea on Friday. Norway captain Raza Iqbal (84) and Suhail Ifthikar (63) helped Norway to a total of 252-8. The Cayman Islands started slowly in reply with just 24 runs in the first ten overs but Sacha DeAlwis worked the run rate up before he was dismissed for 40 and then they began their chase in earnest. Ramon Sealy smashed his way to a quick 50 and went on to score 84 before he was run out and Cayman Islands were left needing 15 off the last over - the same amount Norway had scored off of their final over.
But with seven needed off two deliveries, a wicket and a dot ball dashed the Cayman Islands’ hopes and gave the Norwegians a shot at making the final - and promotion to ICC World Cricket League Division 5. Norway’s Safir Hayat said: “The team performance was very pleasing. We put a total on the board that was good to defend. It was a narrow win but the bowlers did well for us. We’re looking forward to playing Guernsey. We have played them before and it didn’t go our way. So this time we want to turn it around and qualify for Division 5. The batting should be one of the keys - having a good total or chasing a good total.”
Guernsey remain unbeaten and topped Group A as they saw off Suriname by 44 runs to set up a semi-final clash with Norway. David Hooper, who scored 55 then took three wickets for 32 runs in a player-of-the-match display for Guernsey, said: “It is good to have three quality wins but to have a close game today was important heading into the semi-finals. We know Norway have a strong bowling attack, but with our results so far we are confident in our batting all the way down.”
Suriname progress as Group A runners-up and will have a chance of securing their final spot and promotion when they face Group B winners Vanuatu at Coggeshall on Friday. Guernsey were put into bat and struggled to deal with the pace of the ball. David Hooper (55) was the only batsman to pass 50 as his side were 239 all out. Gavin Singh continued to shine on match day three and was the pick of the Suriname bowlers with figures of 3-33 off nine overs. Suriname lost regular wickets in the reply but opener Muneshwar Chris Patandin showed his team-mates how it was done as he hit a century off just 95 deliveries. But they lost their last four batsmen for just 16 runs and were all out for 195 at Halstead Cricket Club’s Star Stile ground.
Nabil Master’s four-wicket haul helped Botswana to victory over Fiji at Coggeshall in their concluding Group A game. On a beautifully sunny day, Fiji captain Josefa Rika (42), Giles Smith (35) and Metuisela Beitaki (58) helped them post a first-innings total of 211. Tight work from the Botswana bowlers, in particular Master (4-34), set them up nicely but they started their innings in disastrous fashion as Imran Khan (2-30) took the early wickets of Rashaad Mosweu and Karabo Motlhanka to leave them on 3-2. But Gaolape Mokokwe’s 50 off 75 balls steadied the ship and an attacking partnership of 53 between Waseem Tajbhay (35) and Master (33) with 14 overs left set up a two-wicket win.
Scores in brief:
At Star Stile, Halstead
Guernsey 239 all out, 50 overs (David Hooper 55; Gavin Singh 3-33)
Suriname 195 all out, 47 overs (MC Pantandin 100; David Hooper 3-32)
Guernsey won by 44 runs
Player of the Match: David Hooper (Guernsey)
At Rye Mill Lane, Kelvedon
Norway 252-8, 50 overs (Raza Iqbal 84, Suhail Ifthikar 63)
Cayman Islands 244-9, 50 overs (Ramon Sealy 84; Raza Iqbal 5-48)
Norway won by eight runs
Player of the Match: Raza Iqbal (Norway)
At Kelvedon Road, Coggeshall
Fiji 211 all out, 48.2 overs (Metuisela Beitaki 58; Nabil Master 4-34)
Botswana 214-8, 48.4 overs (Gaolape Mokokwe 50, Nabil Master 33; Kunaal Kumar 2-19)
Botswana won by two wickets
Player of the Match: Nabil Master (Botswana)
Friday, 11 September - Fixtures
Semi-Final at Frinton: Guernsey v Norway
Semi-Final at Coggeshall: Vanuatu v Suriname
At Maldon: Cayman Islands v Fiji
All matches are scheduled to start at 10.30 local time
Guernsey remain unbeaten and topped Group A as they saw off Suriname by 44 runs to set up a semi-final clash with Norway. David Hooper, who scored 55 then took three wickets for 32 runs in a player-of-the-match display for Guernsey, said: “It is good to have three quality wins but to have a close game today was important heading into the semi-finals. We know Norway have a strong bowling attack, but with our results so far we are confident in our batting all the way down.”
Suriname progress as Group A runners-up and will have a chance of securing their final spot and promotion when they face Group B winners Vanuatu at Coggeshall on Friday. Guernsey were put into bat and struggled to deal with the pace of the ball. David Hooper (55) was the only batsman to pass 50 as his side were 239 all out. Gavin Singh continued to shine on match day three and was the pick of the Suriname bowlers with figures of 3-33 off nine overs. Suriname lost regular wickets in the reply but opener Muneshwar Chris Patandin showed his team-mates how it was done as he hit a century off just 95 deliveries. But they lost their last four batsmen for just 16 runs and were all out for 195 at Halstead Cricket Club’s Star Stile ground.
Nabil Master’s four-wicket haul helped Botswana to victory over Fiji at Coggeshall in their concluding Group A game. On a beautifully sunny day, Fiji captain Josefa Rika (42), Giles Smith (35) and Metuisela Beitaki (58) helped them post a first-innings total of 211. Tight work from the Botswana bowlers, in particular Master (4-34), set them up nicely but they started their innings in disastrous fashion as Imran Khan (2-30) took the early wickets of Rashaad Mosweu and Karabo Motlhanka to leave them on 3-2. But Gaolape Mokokwe’s 50 off 75 balls steadied the ship and an attacking partnership of 53 between Waseem Tajbhay (35) and Master (33) with 14 overs left set up a two-wicket win.
Scores in brief:
At Star Stile, Halstead
Guernsey 239 all out, 50 overs (David Hooper 55; Gavin Singh 3-33)
Suriname 195 all out, 47 overs (MC Pantandin 100; David Hooper 3-32)
Guernsey won by 44 runs
Player of the Match: David Hooper (Guernsey)
At Rye Mill Lane, Kelvedon
Norway 252-8, 50 overs (Raza Iqbal 84, Suhail Ifthikar 63)
Cayman Islands 244-9, 50 overs (Ramon Sealy 84; Raza Iqbal 5-48)
Norway won by eight runs
Player of the Match: Raza Iqbal (Norway)
At Kelvedon Road, Coggeshall
Fiji 211 all out, 48.2 overs (Metuisela Beitaki 58; Nabil Master 4-34)
Botswana 214-8, 48.4 overs (Gaolape Mokokwe 50, Nabil Master 33; Kunaal Kumar 2-19)
Botswana won by two wickets
Player of the Match: Nabil Master (Botswana)
Friday, 11 September - Fixtures
Semi-Final at Frinton: Guernsey v Norway
Semi-Final at Coggeshall: Vanuatu v Suriname
At Maldon: Cayman Islands v Fiji
All matches are scheduled to start at 10.30 local time
By: Editor
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