Kuwait and Germany promoted to Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 7

Kuwait and Germany have been promoted to Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 (WCL Div. 7) after both teams claimed victory after a series of crossover matches were completed today in Kuwait.

Kuwait beat Zambia in a low-scoring thriller to qualify for Division 7 ahead of tomorrow?s finals, while Germany maintained its one hundred percent record by defeating Vanuatu.

Vanuatu and Zambia will play each other tomorrow, to decide which of them will remain in Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 8 and which will be relegated back to the regional tournaments alongside the already relegated Bhutan, Suriname, Gibraltar and Bahamas.

In the other crossover games of the day ? Gibraltar scored its first victory of the tournament, beating Bhutan by 56 runs while Suriname claimed its maiden win defeating Bahamas by 36 runs. All four sides have been relegated from the tournament but Suriname will face Gibraltar and Bahamas will take on Bhutan for final tournament standings.

Kuwait continued its dominance of this competition ahead of tomorrow?s final by defeating Zambia by three wickets at the KEC ground here in Kuwait.

The morning did not start well for the Zambians with Peter Kirsten?s men skittled for just 63 runs after another fantastic performance from Mohammed Murad who claimed 5-15. Murad saw off the two key opening batsmen ? Allan Nsensha and Ashraf Lulat before Saad Khalid dismissed Isaac Mwaba.

But after Zambia?s batting collapse the Kuwaitis? also manage a batting collapse with the top four batsmen making just 23 runs between them after Gladson Kandela, Sharif Yousuf and Tapson Nyirongo ripped through the top order.

The normally dependable Irfan Bhatti failed to read Kandela?s skills with the new ball and was dismissed for one run after having faced just four balls.

It was done to the bottom order to steer the side home to its low target, which is exactly what Saad Khalid and Mohammed Murad did after the team was left reeling at 7-54.

Kuwait captain Hisham Mirza said: ?We?ve worked really hard as a side for this tournament and to know we?re now heading to Division 7 is a great feeling for all the team.

?I hope tomorrow we can do the people of Kuwait proud by beating Germany and claiming the tournament trophy.

?Zambia tested us today and we need to make sure we learn from the mistakes we made batting today and must come back stronger tomorrow for the finals.?

Meanwhile in the other promotion play-off Vanuatu made a strong start against Germany with the Pacific Islanders? strong bowling duo of Patrick Matautaava and Patrick Haines removing six of the Europeans? wickets.

The Germans were eventually all out for 185 despite a valiant effort by Farooq Ahmed who struck an 89-ball 79 to help the side to a stronger target having been 4-78 until the 36-year-old came to the crease.

After the innings break, Andrew Mansale?s men came out guns blazing ready to knock-off the runs but Asif Khan?s men had other ideas.

Opening batsmen Damien Smith and Edy Mansale were both out early on after being deemed leg-before-wicket, while the top scorer for the side was captain, and younger Mansale brother, Andrew with 27 runs.

Only Simpson Obed joined his captain with double figures (15) but was caught and bowled by the inform Kashif Haider. The rest of the side failed to make an inroads in the strong German bowling and after the departure of Matautaava and Trevor Langa there was not much hope for the side when Aby John was dismissed after five runs.

The victory for Germany sees the side through to Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 7 in Botswana in May while defeat means Vanuatu will have to face Zambia tomorrow in a battle to remain in Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 8.

German captain Asif Khan said of his side?s qualification to Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 7: ?It feels fantastic to know we?ll be travelling to Botswana next year for Division 7.

?To have won every game so far in this tournament is brilliant and I hope tomorrow we can round off a great week with a win over Kuwait to make it a clean sweep.

?Vanuatu tested us today and credit must got to Farooq Ahmed who stood up to the strong bowling attack to make 79. While I must also mention another fine performance by Kashif Haider who made sure we dismissed Vanuatu for 93 and claimed victory.?

In the other matches of the day, relegated sides Gibraltar and Suriname both scored wins over its respective oppositions.

Christian Rocca?s Gibraltar defeated Bhutan after the Asian side failed to reach the respectable target of 279 set by the Gibraltarians. Three members of the side ? Kieron Ferrary, Mark Bacarese and Ross Harkins ? struck half-centuries to set the Bhutanese a competitive target.

Bhutan put in a valiant effort to chase down the total with Jigme Singye scoring 51 runs but the young side fell short of the target by some 56 runs.

Bacarese picked himself up a man of the match award after not only scoring 62 runs but also taking 3-33 and dismissing all top three batsmen in the Bhutanese side.

In the final game of the day, Suriname secured a win over Bahamas after Troy Dudanath smashed his way to 61-ball 111 not out. The 20-year-old all-rounder helped the side to a 269 in its allotted 50 overs and the mountain proved to greater one to climb for the Bahamas.

Greg Taylor once again led his side from the front scoring 78 runs but despite efforts from Shanaka Perera and Jermaine Adderley the side fell short of victory by 36 runs.

Tomorrow will see Kuwait face Germany in the final of the Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 8 while Zambia will face Vanuatu in a relegation battle. The victors of that match will remain in Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 8 while the losers will be relegated alongside Gibraltar, Suriname, Bahamas and Bhutan.

The four relegated teams will play each other in a series of matches to decide final tournament standings.