World Cup Qualifier: Afghanistan escape to Super Six, Ireland through
NEWDELHI: Nepal rallied to defeat Hong Kong by five wickets on Monday, handing Afghanistan a lifeline into the Super Six stage of the ICC World Cup Qualifier being played in Zimbabwe. The result left the three Group B teams with two points each, but Afghanistan made it due to a superior net run rate.
Although expected to get into the second stage of the competition – only two of the 10 teams will make it to the 10-team 2019 World Cup in England – Afghanistan lost three matches to be left waiting anxiously and praying for a Nepal win.
Nepal didn’t help matters. Their 17-year-old leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, bought by IPL side Delhi Daredevils, took three for 17 to help dismiss Hong Kong for 153 in 48.2 overs. But Nepal were themselves reduced to 66 for 5.
Rohit Kumar Paudel then hit 48 not out to guide Nepal to 155 for 5. He raised an unbroken 89-run stand with Sompal Kami (37no) to seal victory in 40.4 overs.
Zimbabwe went through as Group B toppers after a thrilling tie versus Scotland. Dismissed for 210 in 46.4 overs, Zimbabwe bowlers fought back to dismiss Scotland for 210 with five balls left. matches could get addressed as there’s a good chance North East teams could be granted affiliation and play Ranji next season.
The Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee in its report has recommended that all teams from North East must be equal stakeholders in BCCI. Whether it’s practical remains to be seen as there’s a huge gulf in standard.
Most teams had issues with the quality of the white Sg-glace ball used in limited overs tournaments instead of the Kookaburra.
The Board representative said it was an experiment and it would ask the manufacturers to improve quality as it intends to introduce it in international matches as well. Kookaburra is used in IPL and limited overs The Africans topped their group with three wins and a tie. Scotland also made it.
In Group A, West Indies continued to show they were pretty much ahead of their rivals at this level in going through to Super Six. The twice former champions eliminated Netherlands by handing them a 54-run defeat under internationals in India. The Kookaburra ball is quite expensive (approx ~10,000 per ball) compared to the locally made ball.
There were lot of complaints about umpiring. The BCCI official assured steps to improve that by conducting tests and inducting younger umpires. To prevent teams from doctoring pitches to gain results, a suggestion was made to hold five-day matches in the league stage to give enough time to force a result.
The Committee of Administrators has raised the domestic players’ per-day fee to ~35,000 from ~10,000, but BCCI acting secretary Amitabh Choudhary has yet to accept it. The captains sought to know its status and were assured it would be cleared soon. the rain rule. West Indies went through with an all-win record. West Indies ran up 309/6 in 48 overs with Evin Lewis (84) and Marlon Samuels (73no) leading the way after Chris Gayle smashed a 31-ball 46 with five sixes. Rovman Powell, who hit a century in the last game, made 52. Ireland hammered the United Arab Emirates by 226 though both teams made it from Group A. Super Sixes start on Thursday. Brief Scores: Group A: West Indies 309/6 in 48 overs (E Lewis 84, M Samuels 73*) beat Netherlands in 28.4 overs (R ten Doeschate 67*, Wesley Barresi 64) by 54 runs (DLS method). Ireland 6 in 44 overs (P Stirling 126, W Porterfield 92; M Naveed 3/84) beat UAE 91 overs (B Rankin 4/15, S Singh 3/15) by 226 runs. Group B: Zimbabwe 210 in 46.4 overs (C Ervine 57, S Sharif 5/33, M Lesk 4/37) tied Scotland overs (R Berrington 47, G Cremer 3/21, T Chisoro 3/42). overs (Nizhakat 47; S Lamichhane 3-17) lost to
5 in 40.4 overs (Rohit Kumar 48*) by 5 wickets 6
BCCI OFFICIAL, on what Ranji skippers and coaches proposed at the conclave