Joshua Rasu’s big hitting took Vanuatu to a win over Norway today at The Glebe ground in Essex on day two of the ICC World Cricket League Division 6.
Norway, in their first match of the tournament, kicked off their campaign with the bat in disastrous style as they lost early wickets in the opening six overs to reduce them to 19-2. Suhail Ifthikar (37) and Zeeshan Siddiqui (45) steadied the ship but Norway struggled with their running between the wickets and suffered three run-outs. Vanuata’s Nalin Nipiko (4-30) was the pick of their bowlers as Norway were restricted to 184 from their 50 overs.
It was not enough as Rasu produced an attacking innings with five fours and five sixes in his knock of 95, which included two maximums straight down the ground in consecutive balls. Norway bowler Jawad Mir (4-17) carried their fight but could not prevent a four-wicket defeat.
Rasu said: “I am glad to get my 95 to set up the game but I am disappointed not to make a century after how close I was, and I would have liked to have seen out the rest of the game.
“I don’t think we need to see the games out quicker but we do need to keep our net run rate up to win the group.”
Matt Stokes’ unbeaten knock of 135 helped Guernsey make it two wins from their first two games. Guernsey elected to bat against Botswana and it proved a good decision as opener Stokes set about laying the foundations for a 151-run win at Frinton-on-Sea. Stokes was aided by great support from Tim Ravenscroft, who hit 58 off 37 deliveries, and Ben Ferbrache, who smashed an unbeaten 68 off just 27, to give their side an intimidating 313 total.
And the Botswana reply never really got going, with Oliver Newey (3-19) taking three early wickets and Tom Nightingale (3-34) also doing the damage as Botswana were all out for 162.
Suriname sneaked past Fiji with two balls to spare for their second win in as many games at Castle Park, Colchester. After Fiji skipper Josefa Rika’s early dismissal, Jikoi Kida Vanualeva (89) and Giles Smith (24) settled in to bring up the team 50 in the 15th over. But disaster struck as Suriname’s Muneshwar Patandin finished with an outstanding 5-33 in nine overs of work to leave Fiji all out for 205 in 48.4 overs.
Wasim Haslim (53) was the star in the middle of the Surinamese innings then Gavin Singh, the player of the match for the second day running, took the match to the final over, with Suriname needing three runs to win. And despite losing Singh for 53, Suriname were able to scrape over the line with two balls to spare for a six-wicket win.
Suriname captain Mohindra Boodram said: “We were pleased with the bowling performance. “We thought it would have been easier, batting second, to get 206, but they bowled well and credit to them. At the end we came out on top. It was a good game for us.”
Meanwhile, the ICC has confirmed that Saudi Arabia will not take part in the tournament after it was unable to secure visas in time. As such, the Event Technical Committee has decided that all Saudi Arabia’s matches in the tournament will be cancelled. The remaining Group B teams – Cayman Islands, Vanuatu and Norway – will play their remaining matches as scheduled, with the results of these matches to determine group rankings for the purposes of qualification to the second round.
Scores in brief:
At Castle Park, Colchester
Fiji 205 all out, 48.4 overs (Jikoi Kida Vanualevu 89; MC Patandin 5-33)
Suriname 207-4, 49.4 overs (WA Haslim 53, Gavin Singh 53)
Suriname won by six wickets
Player of the Match: Gavin Singh (Suriname)
At Ashlyns Road, Frinton-on-Sea
Guernsey 313-3 (50 overs) (Matt Stokes 135 not out, Tim Ravenscroft 58, LB Ferbrache 68 not out)
Botswana 162 all out, 43.3 overs (A Saiyed 32; Oliver Newey 3-19, Tom Nightingale 3-34)
Guernsey won by 151 runs
Player of the Match: Matt Stokes (Guernsey)
At The Glebe, West Mersea
Norway 184-8 (50 overs) (Zeeshan S Siddiqui 45; Nalin Nipiko 4-30)
Vanuatu 188-6, 46 overs (Joshua Rasu 95; Jawad Mir 4-17)
Vanuatu won by four wickets
Player of the Match: Joshua Rasu (Vanuatu)
Wednesday, 9 September is rest/reserve day
Thursday, 10 September – Fixtures
At Coggeshall: Fiji v Botswana
At Halstead: Guernsey v Suriname
At Kelvedon: Cayman Islands v Norway
All matches are scheduled to start at 10.30 local time
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