Oman, UAE and Namibia make winning starts in WCL Div.2

Oman, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and hosts Namibia produced clinical performances to make winning starts in the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 in Windhoek, Namibia on Saturday.

Oman overcame Gary Savage’s man of the match performance and Alejandro Ferguson’s onslaught with the bat to beat Argentina by 18 runs in a keenly-contested match at the Centre of Cricket Development Ground while Namibia made short work of Denmark by eight wickets at the Wanderers and the UAE swept aside Uganda by seven wickets at the United Cricket Ground.

30-year-old Savage bowled impressively to grab 4-57 and restricted Oman to 269-8. He then contributed a rapid 34 from 49 balls but Argentina fell short by 18 runs when it finished at 251-6, despite an electrifying 66 from Ferguson who clubbed three fours and two sixes.

Earlier, Oman’s innings revolved around Hemin Desai (51), Sultan Ahmed (44), Vaibhav Wategaonkar (42), Farhan Khan (32 not out) and Hemal Mehta (31). Besides Savage, captain Esteban MacDermott took 2-27.

At the United Ground, Arshad Ali and Khurram Khan put on 121 runs for the unbroken fourth wicket to steer the UAE to a seven-wicket victory over Uganda.

Ali, named man of the match, remained undefeated on a 118-ball 79 while Khan scored 62 from 80 balls with five fours and two sixes. Ali’s innings was laced with seven boundaries.

Ali and Khan had earlier shared five wickets between them as Uganda, put into bat, was bowled out for 194 in 49.4 overs. Ali finished as the pick of bowlers with 3-31 while Khan snapped up 2-24.

For Uganda, Ronald Semanda top scored with 72. His 113 balls knock included five fours.

At the Wanderers, hosts and favourites Namibia romped to an eight-wicket victory over Denmark after pace duo of Matheus van Zyl and Louis Klazinga ripped the heart of the Danes by sharing seven wickets between.

Zyl took 4-17 and Klazinga took 3-11 as the tourists were dismissed for 77 in 29.1 overs after electing to bat first.

Gerrie Synman then produced a man of the match performance by clobbering 11 boundaries and two sixes in his 30-ball 60 as Namibia raced to victory in only 11.5 overs.

The top four teams from WCL Division 2 will earn automatic qualification in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009 in the United Arab Emirates where they will be joined by Kenya, Ireland, Bermuda, Scotland, Canada and the Netherlands.

The bottom two teams will be relegated to World Cricket League Division 3 but will have a second chance to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009 when they play in the ICC World Cricket League Division 3.

Scores in brief:

At the Wanderers, Namibia beat Denmark by eight wickets
Argentina: 77 in 29.1 overs (Matheus van Zyl 4-17, Louis Klazinga 3-11, Kola Burger 2-15)
Namibia: 81-2 in 11.5 overs (Gerrie Snyman 60 not out)

At the United Cricket Ground, UAE beat Uganda by seven wickets
Uganda 194 in 49.4 overs (Ronald Semanda 72, Arshad Ali 3-31, Khurram Khan 2-24)
UAE: 195-3 in 41.3 overs (Arshad Ali 79 not out, Khurram Khan 62, Kenneth Kamyuka 2-32)

At the Centre of Cricket Development Ground, Oman beat Argentina by 18 runs
Oman: 268-8 in 50 overs (Hemin Desai 51, Sultan Ahmed 44, Vaibhav Wategaonkar 42, Farhan Khan 32 not out, Hemal Mehta 31, Gary Savage 4-57, Esteban MacDermott 2-27

Argentina: 251-6 (Alejandro Ferguson 66 not out, Bernardo Irigoyen 44, Gary Savage 34, Hemin Desai 2-56, Awal Khan 2-32)

Matches for Sunday:
Uganda v Oman – Wanderers; Argentina v Namibia – United; Denmark v UAE – Centre for Cricket Development