Namibia tested by Uganda

Seventh-seed Namibia's winning formula was tested by Uganda on Friday before the former overcame its African neighbour by four runs in a Group B fixture of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2012 at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium on day four of the 12-day tournament.

Namibia's Raymond van Schoor (60 in 62 balls) proved to be the batsman of note for Namibia after Uganda's Charles Waiswa snapped up three key wickets to restrict the side to 140 for five.

Uganda fought valiantly to chase down the target but some tight bowling by Sarel Burger and Christi Viljoen ensureed the fellow African side fell short of the mark.

Scotland's Calum MacLeod ensured his side continued its winning ways after the 23-year-old right-hander scored a brilliant 104 in its 52 runs victory over Oman in the sides' Group B fixture at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Elsewhere, defending champion Afghanistan defeated Nepal by 34 runs, Canada beat Bermuda by 72 runs, Netherlands thumped Denmark by seven wickets and Papua New Guinea beat Hong Kong by four wickets with one ball to spare (all in Group A), Alex Obanda's 47-ball 79 helped Kenya to its second win of the tournament after the fourth seed defeated Italy by seven wickets and a batting collapse by the USA saw Ireland win by 64 runs (all in Group B).

After four rounds, Afghanistan leads Group A with four wins from as many matches while the Netherlands and Canada are on three wins from four matches each.

In Group B, an unbeaten Namibia continues to lead the pack followed by Ireland and Scotland who have three wins each from four matches. Italy, Kenya and Uganda are all tied in fourth place having each won two matches.

All the 16 teams are currently targeting a place in the top three of each group which will keep their chances of qualifying for this September's ICC World Twenty20 Sri Lanka 2012 alive.

The two sides that will top their respective groups will feature in the 1st Qualifying Final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on 22 March with the winner sealing a place for the Sri Lanka tournament to be staged from 18 September to 7 October.

The sides that finish second and third in the two groups will play cross-over matches. The two winners will progress to the Preliminary Final to be played on 23 March at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The 2nd Qualifying Final ? for the second spot in the ICC World Twenty20 2012 ? will take place on the morning of 24 March at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium between the loser of the 1st Qualifying Final and the winner of the Preliminary Final.

Reverting to the day's proceedings, Uganda's bowlers at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi gave Namibia an early morning fright when Charles Waiswa had its fellow African side on the back-foot after Gerrie Snyman was dismissed for a duck having faced just two balls. It was then up to van Schoor to lead from the front with the 21-year-old right-handed batsman top-scoring with 60 in his side's 140 for five.

In-form batsman Louis van der Westhuizen was clean bowled by captain Davis Arinaitwe after striking a 16-ball 24.

Uganda, which beat Namibia in the final of the ICC Twenty20 Regional Qualifier, looked on course to chase down the 141-run target all the way till it required 10 runs off the last two balls of the 20th over. However, it managed only six runs to lose by four runs.

Namibia captain Sarel Burger said the match was a testing one for his side. He said: "Uganda is a team that we play quite a lot and the matches always provide decent competition. There was obviously some fatigue in the side after four days of cricket which meant we didn't perform in this win perhaps to our highest standards.

"It's a perfect start to the tournament, a start which everyone would want. But we must take it game by game."

Arinaitwe was visibly upset at the loss when he said: "This was a game we could and should have won. We have beaten Namibia in the past but today it just didn't happen. There is no time in Twenty20 cricket to dwell on today's loss. We have to move on and we have to win every game we play after tomorrow's rest day."

At the Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Scotland after opting to bat first, posted 158-5 in its 20 overs. In its reply, Oman was bowled out for 106 in 17.4 overs.

Richie Berrington (30) and MacLeod (104 n.o., 76 balls, 6x4, 4x6) added 104 runs for the opening wicket for Scotland. Thereafter, Oman pulled things back, and a total of 158 seemed to be a par score. MacLeod's magnificent effort was the second century of the tournament.

Oman's chase never took off with only Amir Ali (25), Farhan Khan (18) and Aamir Kaleem (21) offering some resistance. Safyaan Sharif (2-15), Majid Haq (3-12) and Preston Mommsen (2-23) shared the wickets for Scotland.

MacLeod said at the post-match chat: "It's been going very well personally and as a team we are on track. We have now won three games out of four so we are doing alright. It was my first century for Scotland, so I am obviously delighted with that as it had been a long time coming.

"I am really enjoying my new role in the team after a hard period in my career. I think that's probably where some of the emotions came from in my celebration as I had to reinvent myself and I'm starting to do that well."

At the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Papua New Guinea (PNG) held its nerves to beat Hong Kong by four wickets.

PNG, chasing 132 for victory, was 93 for four after 17 overs and needed 39 runs off the last three overs and 28 runs off the last two overs. In the last over with 13 required, Geraint Jones put Aizaz Khan's first ball for a six but the bowler struck back immediately when he sent the former England wicketkeeper's stumps for a walk.

However, it proved to be Hong Kong's and Khan's last success as new batsman Chris Amini took a single off the third ball to hand over the strike to Vani Vagi Morea who, in turn, scored the remaining six runs off the following three balls, including converting a waist height no-ball for a boundary to level the scores with two balls remaining.

Earlier, Hong Kong captain James Atkinson scored a fine 52 off 42 ball with five fours and six, and a featured in a 38-run second wicket partnership with Babar Hayat (21) to take his side to 131-9.

After Saturday's rest match, eight matches will be played on Sunday (schedule below).

Brief Scores

Group A

Canada beat Bermuda by 72 runs at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Canada 175-6, 20 overs (Ruvindu Gunasekera 83, Tyson Gordon 39 not out; Rodney Trott 2-14, Curt Stovell 2-15)
Bermuda 103 all out, 19.3 overs (Lional Cann 33; Rizwan Cheema 3-16, Manninder Aulakh 2-11)
Man of the match: Ruvindu Gunasekera (Canada)

Afghanistan beat Nepal by 34 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Afghanistan 157-6, 20 overs (Karim Sadiq 52, Mohammad Shahzad 52; Chandra Sawad 3-30)
Nepal 123-6, 20 overs (Anil Mandal 50, Paras Khadka 24; Dawlat Zadran 2-16, Mohammad Nabi 2-27, Karim Sadiq 1-23)
Man of the match: Karim Sadiq (Afghanistan)

Papua New Guinea beat Hong Kong by four wickets at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai
Hong Kong 131-9, 20 overs (Jamie Atkinson 52; Chris Amini 2-15, John Reva 2-31)
PNG 132-6, 19.5 overs (Tony Ura 46, Geraint Jones 34; Nizakat Khan 3-18)
Man of the match: Tony Ura (PNG)

Netherlands beat Denmark by seven wickets at ICC GCA, Oval 2, Dubai Sports City
Denmark 117-9, 20 overs (James Moniz 47, Aftab Ahmed 20; Peter Borren 3-13)
Netherlands 122-3, 16.1 overs (Stephan Myburgh 55 not out, Wesley Barresi 45 not out)
Man of the match: Stephan Myburgh (Netherlands)

Group B

Namibia beat Uganda by four runs at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Namibia 140-5, 20 overs (Raymond van Schoor 60, Craig Williams 36; Charles Waiswa 3-29)
Uganda 136-6, 20 overs (Arthur Kyobe 38, Deusdedit Muhumza 18; Sarel Burger 2-15)
Man of the match: Raymond van Schoor (Namibia)

Scotland beat Oman by 52 runs at Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Scotland 158-5, 20 overs (Calum MacLeod 104 not out, Zeeshan Siddiqui 2-28, Hemal Mehta 2-29)
Oman 106 all out, 17.4 overs (Amir Ali 25; Majid Haq 3-12, Saafyan Sharif 2-15, Preston Mommsen 2-23)
Man of the match: Calum MacLeod (Scotland)

Kenya beat Italy by eight wickets at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Italy 145-3, 20 overs (Gareth Berg 60 not out, Peter Petricola 32; Collins Obuya 2-23)
Kenya 146-3, 17.5 overs (Alex Obanda 79, Duncan Allan 41 not out; Damian Crowley 2-21)
Man of the match: Alex Obanda (Kenya)

Ireland beat USA by 64 runs at ICC GCA Oval 2, Dubai Sports City
Ireland 160-6, 20 overs (Kevin O'Brien 47, Ed Joyce 46; Elmore Hutchinson 3-22, Abhimanyu Rajp 2-24)
USA 96 all out, 18 overs (Steven Taylor 23; Boyd Rankin 4-9, Trent Johnston 2-38)
Man of the match: Boyd Rankin (Ireland)

Sunday's fixtures

Oman v USA (1000-1300), Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai Sports City
Hong Kong v Denmark (1000-1300), Global Cricket Academy No.1, Dubai Sports City
Netherlands v PNG (1000-1300), Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Uganda v Italy (1000-1300), Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah
Ireland v Scotland (1400-1700), Dubai International cricket Stadium, Dubai Sports City
Afghanistan v Canada (1400-1700), Global Cricket Academy No.1, Dubai Sports City
Bermuda v Nepal (1400-1700), Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi
Kenya v Namibia (1400-1700), Sharjah Cricket Stadium, Sharjah