ICC wt20 qualifiers, somewhere sandy, Feb 9-13

It will be nice to see USA in the T20 wc

Given that they probably need to win really big it's far from certain that the USA would get through.

Lucky Dubya is no longer President ...If he heard that the USA was about to be knocked out by Afghanistan he'd start launching missiles

In the match that means nothing in the grand scheme of things, UAE scored 7/142 off their 20.

Afghanistan not off to a great start against the USA, 1 down for 8 after 2.5 overs.

So to the final results from the Round Robin matches.

United Arab Emirates Beat Canada by 42 runs
United Arab Emirates 142/7 - Canada 100 all oot off 15.5 overs. Another disappointing result for the Canucks.

Afghanistan continued on their merry way, beating the USA by 29 runs
Afghanistan 135/4 - USA 106/7

Netherlands won by 7 wickets over Kenya
Kenya 130 all out off 19.4 overs - Netherlands 133/3 off 19.1

And Ireland, to nobody's real surprise beat a disappinting Scotland by 37 runs
Ireland 136/7 - Scotland 99 all out off 18.3

So it's off to the Super Four stage, with the top two to go through to the wt20 in the WIndies.

Today:
Afghanistan v Netherlands at 08:00 GMT
followed by
United Arab Emirates v Ireland

Tomorrow:
United Arab Emirates v Afghanistan
then
Ireland v Netherlands

S4 points table

United Arab Emirates 2 pts / NRR +0.720
Afghanistan 2 pts / NRR +0.650
Ireland 0 pts / NRR -0.650
Netherlands 0 pts / NRR -0.720

So it's really do-or-die today for the Dutch and the Irish. If one wins today and one loses, then the loser is pretty well rooted.

If they both win today, then both matches tomorrow become knockout affairs. If they both lose today, it's game over and tomorrow's matches become academic.

Why do I keep bothering? No qunt looks.

Netherlands won by 4 wickets
Afghanistan 128/9 - Netherlands 132/6 off 18.5overs

Keeps the Dutchies alive.

Zat, I'm extremely interested in Afghanistan's progression.


I'm just leaving you to your own devices, good job.

Ireland beat the UAE by 22 runs 152/7 to all out 130 off 19.1

So... it's basically knockout matches today with all teams on 2 points

United Arab Emirates play Afghanistan first, then it's Ireland v Netherlands

Followed by a final of no real consequence.

UAE limped to 100 for 9 off their twenty. Afghanistan lost two wickets early but have recovered a little and are 41 for 2 in the tenth.

And then the Affies lose another wicket. 48/3 off ten.

In the end, Afghanistan got home with 3 balls left and 4 wickets in hand.

And the Irish accounted for a disappointing Dutch team by 65 runs. Ireland's 151/6 way too good for the Netherlands 86 all out off 15.3

In the final, Afghanistan completed the fairy tale, running down Ireland's 142/8 comfortably, 2 down and with 15 balls to spare.

Afghanistan go into Group C at the wt20 with South Africa and India, Ireland into Group D with West Indies and England.

Well done Afghanistan - staggering achievement really considering how long they have been playing the game seriously. They could certainly teach their Pakistani neighbours a thing or two about pulling together for the common good.