Looking Back: ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2010
The ICC World Twenty20 2010 was held in the West Indies in April and May, and the qualifiers for the tournament took place betweenFebruary 9 and 13 in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Here’s a look at how the second edition of the qualifiers panned out:
Format
Eight teams, divided into groups of four each, took part in a league, with the top two teams from each group qualifying for the Super Four, where they played the qualifiers from the other group, with the top two moving into the final.
Group Stages
Scotland, USA, Afghanistan and Ireland were placed in Group A, while Kenya, UAE, Canada and the Netherlands made up Group B. Given that this edition was held in the UAE, there was a stark difference to the conditions in Ireland in the inaugural tournament in 2008, and this was reflected in the scoreboard, with more Twenty20-like batting highs.
In Group A, USA created a flutter early on by beating Scotland by six wickets, but then lost its games to Afghanistan and Ireland, clearly the best teams on view. Scotland ended up losing all its three games, while the crucial game between Afghanistan and Ireland, which took place early on in the piece, went Afghanistan’s way by 13 runs.
In Group B, meanwhile, UAE was the standout team, winning all its three games. Canada was at the other end of the spectrum, losing everything, which made the clash between Kenya and the Netherlands the key one. The Netherlands won that one without much fuss to book a place in the Super Four alongside UAE.
Knockouts/Playoffs
The Netherlands set the ball rolling in the Super Four stage by beating Afghanistan in the first game by four wickets, but Ireland, which beat UAE in the second game by 22 runs, did the Afghans a huge favour by beating Netherlands in the final Super Four game by a mammoth 65 runs. With Afghanistan beating UAE by four wickets in the other game, it was an Ireland v Afghanistan final.
Finals
An all-round effort, led by Nawroz Mangal (3-23) with the ball and Mohammad Shahzad (65 not out in 46 balls) with the bat, ensured an eight-wicket win for Afghanistan. Both teams qualified for the ICC World Twenty20 2010.
Top 3 Individual Performances
Mohammad Shahzad: 65* in 46 balls for Afghanistan v Ireland
Ireland was most well-established side among the non-Full Members and though Afghanistan had won the fixture when the two teams met in the group stage, Ireland was the higher rated team in the final. It did well to reach 142 for 8, and it should have been a good scrap from there to the end but for Shahzad. He came in at 37 for 1 in the fourth over, and proceeded to hit six fours and a six in a rollicking 46-ball innings, taking Afghanistan to the title in the process, the target reached in just 17.3 overs.
Hamid Hassan: 3-32 for Afghanistan v Scotland
Afghanistan had already created a flutter, but Scotland was the more fancied team in this Group A game. Batting first, Afghanistan had put up a competitive 131 for 7, but Gavin Hamilton and Neil McCallum scoring 30s, it was game on, when Hamid Hassan, the tearaway quick, came in and ran through the Scotland middle order to help Afghanistan seal a 14-run win.
**Alex Obanda:**79 in 48 balls for Kenya v Canada
In terms of T20 innings, this one was the most dominant of the tournament, and Kenya’s win one of the most comprehensive. Batting first, Canada had scored 138 for 9, not bad under any circumstances. But once Obanda, who smashed 11 fours and a six in his 48-ball 79, was done, the game was almost over. Obanda fell in the 13th over, but Kenya needed just 13 runs more then, and the target was reached for the loss of only Obanda’s wicket in just 14.5 overs.
Top Three Matches
USA v Scotland – Group A
It was the first game of the tournament and there was little doubt in anyone’s mind that Scotland was the favourite. But, over 39.1 overs, the boys from USA showed just how far they had come, by beating Scotland by six wickets. Gavin Hamilton helped Scotland reach 120 for 7. Carl Wright, the USA opener, then scored a 57-ball 62, and Lennox Cush added 41 in 39 balls to take USA to a memorable win.
Kenya v UAE – Group B
Kenya might not have been the force it once was, but it was still expected to do well against UAE. Batting first, UAE scored a solid 165 for 5, Arfan Haider’s half-century and good hands from Saqib Ali and Khurram Khan helping them along. Runs from Steve Tikolo, Morris Ouma, Collins Obuya and Jimmy Kamande kept Kenya in the hunt, but superb spells from Shadeep Silva – 2 for 25 – and Ahmed Raza – 2 for 17 – stopped the team 15 runs short.
UAE v Afghanistan – Super Four
This should have been a clash of equals, and it was, though a low-scoring one. Mohammad Nabi’s three-for, and two-wicket hauls from Mirwais Ashraf and Hamid Hassan kept UAE down to just 100 for 9. But if Afghanistan expected an easy chase, the UAE bowlers ensured it wasn’t, chipping away at regular intervals. Afghanistan eventually crossed the line with four wickets in hand but just three balls left in the game.
Top Three Batsmen
Mohammad Shahzad (Afghanistan): Games 4, Runs 118, HS 65*, Avg 39.33, SR 104.42
Noor Ali Zadran (Afghanistan): Games 4, Runs 118, HS 42, Avg 29.50, SR 90.07
Alexei Kervezee (Netherlands): Games 4, Runs 113, HS 39, Avg 28.25, SR 120.21
Top Three Bowlers
Trent Johnston (Ireland): Games 4, Wickets 8, Best 3-20, Avg 10.00, ER 5.00
Pieter Seelaar (Netherlands): Games 4, Wickets 8, Best 4-19, Avg 10.87, ER 5.80
Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan): Games 4, Wickets 8, Best 3-23, Avg 12.25, ER 7.00