Vanuatu wins on day one of WCL Div 8

Hosts Kuwait scored victory on the opening day of the first-ever Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 8 (WCL Div. 8) as it defeated Suriname in its Group A fixture at Sulaibiya (Saturday).

Elsewhere, fellow Group A side Vanuatu piled on a huge total of 337 runs, a target Bhutan failed to reach in its allotted overs, giving the Pacific Island its first taste of victory. While in Group B Bahamas defeated Gibraltar and Germany defeated Zambia.

Suriname began its tournament with a disappointing batting performance being skittled for just 76 runs after a strong bowling performance from Kuwait.

Kuwait's bowling attach was spearheaded by Mohammed Murad (4-26) and Saad Khalid (4-15) leaving the South Americans in total disarray.

None of the Surinamese managed to make an impact with the bat, with Terbhawan Ranjit (19) and Anthony Seeraj (12 not out) being the only players in the side to make it to double figures. The batting card read badly for Shazam Ramjohn's side with the two players departing for ducks and while two top-order batsman departed for one run each.

When the time arrived for Kuwait the hosts knocked the runs off with ease, using just seven of its allotted 50 overs to reach the target.

Opening batsman Irfan Bhatti led from the front, scoring 46 not out and after losing captain Hisham Mirza for 16 it was up to Abid Chaudhry to finish things off with Bhatti.

Mirza said: "It was a dream start for us to begin the tournament with a victory but we can't be complacent. Vanuatu are in our group and after their big win today, we need to make sure we're prepared to face them tomorrow in Hubara.

"I couldn't have hoped for a better start for us today and it was good to finish so early so we had time to relax ahead of tomorrow's game where we hope we can also do well."

Meanwhile fellow Group A members Vanuatu made light work of Bhutan's bowlers and later its batsmen.

Captain Andrew Mansale led from the front when his team won the toss and he chose to bat , the 22-year-old top-scoring for the Pacific Islanders with a masterful 87 runs in an innings that included three boundaries and six sixes.