World Cricket League Division 3

[TheGreemSim]

As some of you may know or may not know the World Cricket League Division 3 Contest starts today hosted in Argentina. Some of you may know most of the minnow teams of world cricket are divided into 6 divisions division 1 being the teams like Ireland, Scotland, Canada etc. Division 6 being teams like Malaysia, Norway, Singapore etc.

The teams in this years tournament are Afghanistan, Uganda, Argentina, Hong Kong, Cayman Islands and Papa New Guinea. The winner and runner up proceed to the World Cup 2011 qualifying tournament.

A bit of background about the teams:

Afganistan: 15/1
Afganistan certainly aren't favourites to win but they achieved so much last year winning both the division 5 tournament and then the division 4 tournement only a few months later. Their Coach Kabir Khan former Pakistan bowler claims that "Qualifying for the world cup isn't a dream, but a strong possibility."

Argentinia: 5/1
Probable favourites and also hosting the tournament recently relegated last year from division two team Argentina seem confident and are definately a strong contender.

Cayman Islands 17/1
Cayman Islands although often semi finalists in the Americas Championship, are an average team that haven't shown much ability in the tournaments they have played in whether its the Intercontinental Cup or The WCL. They were knocked out in the first round of the 2005 Inetrcontinental Cup and only managed to scrape a mid table place in 2007 WCL Division 3 Competition.

Hong Kong: 15/1
We saw Hong Kong earlier last year in the Asia Cup, although they didn't do very well, they had a few key players that might help them win a place in the ICC World Cup qualifiers later this year.

Papa New Guinea: 10/1
Papa New Guinea have done average in all of the ICC Trophy's they've taken part in. They're best performance would've been in 1982 when they came third place. They were third place in Division 3 in 2007 so they are in with a chance of winning

Uganda: 4/1
Uganda are a strong team who used to part of the East Africa Side in the 1980's. In 2007 they won division 3 but unfortunately could only scrape a fifth place position in Division 2 last year and were relegated back into division 3. They will expecting to win the tournament this year and there's a stong chance they might.

Latest Scores:

Cayman Islands vs Uganda
Cayman Islands 104 all out
Uganda 105/1

Hong Kong vs Afganistan
Afganistan 201 all out
Hong Kong 188 all out

Argentina vs Papa New Guinea
Papa New Guinea 127 all out
Argentina 106 all out

 

[Crew of Black]

All those teams seem capable of winning this comp.

Though I feel Afghanistan and Argentina will go through in this division.

 

[TheGreemSim]

All those teams seem capable of winning this comp.

Though I feel Afghanistan and Argentina will go through in this division.

Yes it is a tight competition.

Current Scores:
Papa New Guinea vs Cayman Islands.

Cayman Islands: 20/0 4.0 overs
A Hall 8
R Sealy 6

 

[ZexyZahid]

Uganda was earlier on impressive against Kenya it seems.

Uganda impress against Kenya
Cricinfo staff
January 13, 2009
Cricinfo - Uganda impress against Kenya

Cricinfo ranked Afghanistan and Hong Kong as joint-favourites of this tournament. Whoever finishes in the top two, will progress to the World Cup Qualifiers in South Africa in April.

Afghanistan ready for a giant leap
Will Luke
January 23, 2009
Cricinfo - Afghanistan ready for a giant leap

But Afghanistan lost already to Uganda, so they've got a big task ahead.

 

[TheGreemSim]

I reckon Afghanistan will beat Hong Kong today which will still keep them in the hunt however Hong Kong is one of the key teams they'll have to beat.

SCORE UPDATE:

Afghanistan vs Hong Kong
Afghanistan: 77/2 15 overs

Argentina vs Papanew Guinea
Papa New Guinea: 73/2 15 overs

Cayman Islands vs Uganda
Cayman Islands: 17/5 10 overs

 

[ZexyZahid]

Afghanistan won their first match.

Afghanistan won by 13 runs
Afghanistan 201 (49.5 ov); Hong Kong 188 (48.2 ov)

Cricinfo hasn't shown the results of the other two matches.

 

[ZexyZahid]

Here are the other results:

Papua New Guinea won by 21 runs
Papua New Guinea 127 (33.5 ov); Argentina 106 (44.4 ov)

Uganda won by 9 wickets (with 167 balls remaining)
Cayman Islands 104 (49.1 ov); Uganda 105/1 (22.1 ov)

 

[mattfb]

Uganda seem like a strong team. I wouldn't be surprised if they progressed.

 

[TheGreemSim]

Uganda seem like a strong team. I wouldn't be surprised if they progressed.

Well they deserve to win and hopefully qualify for the world cup. They recently beat Zimbabwe, Kenya A and came very, very close to beating Kenya

Anyway some updates on scores

Papa New Guinea: 165 all out
Uganda: 65/2 15 overs

Afghanistan 164 all out
Argentina 72/1 17 overs

Hong Kong 210 all out
Cayman Islands 51/2 15 overs

Looks like Argentina are bouncing back and showing that they still mean business, lets just hope it's not too late. Hong Kong seem to be doing well, An excellent innings by Cheruparambil who whacked a fast 83. Whoever wins out of them and Uganda could decide who comes first and who comes second.

 

[ZexyZahid]

This is probably bad news for Afghanistan.

Afghanistan captain suspended for slow over rate
Cricinfo - Afghanistan captain suspended for slow over rate

 

[ZexyZahid]

Here are the results of round 3:

Afghanistan won by 19 runs
Afghanistan 164 (47.4 ov); Argentina 145 (46.4 ov)

Hong Kong won by 49 runs
Hong Kong 210 (46.3 ov); Cayman Islands 161 (48 ov)

Papua New Guinea won by 26 runs
Papua New Guinea 165 (49.5 ov); Uganda 139 (44.2 ov)

Believe it or not, Papua New Guinea is on top of the group.

 

[TheGreemSim]

That'll be a blow for Afghanistan especially when they have to play Papa New Guinea.

 

[ZexyZahid]

Here are the results of round 4:

Afghanistan won by 8 wickets (with 206 balls remaining)
Papua New Guinea 93 (31 ov); Afghanistan 94/2 (15.4 ov)

Cayman Islands won by 6 wickets (with 65 balls remaining)
Argentina 165 (47.2 ov); Cayman Islands 166/4 (39.1 ov)

Uganda won by 1 run
Uganda 180 (50 ov); Hong Kong 179 (49.4 ov)

Uganda edge Hong Kong in thriller
Cricinfo staff
January 28, 2009
Cricinfo - Uganda edge Hong Kong in thriller

Afghanistan top the group. Afghanistan, Uganda and Papua New Guinea have six points. Hong Kong has four points. So these are the potential teams that could enter the final and go on to the World Cup qualifiers.

I suspect it will be Afghanistan and Uganda in the final, because Afghanistan will face Cayman Islands (the current number 5) and Uganda will face Argentina (the current number 6).