Namibia too hot for African opposition

Namibia and Uganda have qualified for the ICC Trophy after finishing first and second in the African Associates' tournament in Lusaka, Zambia, last week.

Namibia delivered on their captain Deon Kotze's threat in last week's Beyond The Test World to adopt a no-nonsense attitude, steamrolling all opposition in a ruthless performance. Such was their dominance that the Namibians crushed second-placed Uganda in what amounted to a final on the last day by ten wickets, at one stage reducing Uganda to 35 for 8.

Namibia, who reached the final of the 2001 ICC Trophy, then went on to bowl Nigeria out for 30, at which point they decided to tighten the screws even further. "Once we had seen the standard of the opposition, we decided we were going to be utterly merciless," Kotze told us. Nigeria were the first of three teams bowled out by Namibia for less than 100.

Despite chasing such meagre totals, Namibia's opener, Jan-Berrie Burger, still scored around 340 runs in the competition. Burger, who averages 33 and has a strike rate of 100 in one-day internationals, provided his side with a strong base, alongside his fellow opener, Danie Keulder.

Uganda's captain, Junior Kwehiba, said his team's bowlers performed well, but the batsmen were less impressive. "Our bowlers did well throughout the tournament but our batsmen really didn't adjust to the conditions, especially in the match against Namibia." It was those conditions of which Kotze was particularly vitriolic. "They were the worst I have ever experienced - they were awful. There were balls turning square from the first over."

Kotze and Kwehiba agreed there was a considerable drop in standard between their own teams and the remaining four, Zambia, Botswana, Nigeria and Tanzania, who finished in that order. Kotze, however, was impressed by several Ugandans, in particular their seam bowlers and the opening batsman, Joel Olweny, who scored a useful half-century.

By finishing third, the host team, Zambia, now proceed to the World Cup Qualifying Series repechage event in Malaysia in February to contest the final ICC Trophy spot.

It is the only known cricket match in the world for which a public holiday is declared. In Bermuda, it's more than a cricket game, it is the social event of the year.

For two days every year, the western and eastern ends of the island battle for surpremacy in a tradition which has been acted out 102 times previously. Off the field, people who are not remotely interested in cricket file into the ground to meet up with old friends who they may not have seen for years.

This year, St George's, representing the eastern end, were faced with the challenge of taking 20 wickets in two days' play to snatch the Cup from the island's westerners, Somerset. The challengers have to win, producing an attacking mindset, while the holders merely need a draw.

St George's started in adventurous mode, but floundered after an early clatter of wickets. They were bowled out for 121 in just two-and-a-half hours, which gave the WestEnders sufficient time to put the game out of reach. Somerset's South African-born Saleem Mukuddem all but snuffed out any chance of a St George's win with 160, making it two unbeaten centuries in successive Cup matches.

Bermuda's best batsman, 42-year-old Clay Smith, ensured the match was remembered for batting heroics. Coming to the crease with his team reeling at 39 for 3 chasing Somerset's lead of 216, Smith became the first batsman in the history of the competition to score three individual hundreds. Smith belted 124 from just 115 balls, ensuring that St George was safe from defeat when he was the seventh batsman out.

Although for some Bermudians the cricket holiday is an excuse for a quick trip to the North American mainland, the festive event remains much loved as one of the game's more unique celebrations.

Guernsey received a boost, ahead of next week's Four Islands tournament, by winning Channel Islands cricket's biggest event, the annual match against Jersey, by five wickets, writes David Piesling.

Jersey won the toss and chose to bat, but quickly collapsed to 64 for 6 against a tight Guernsey attack, led by Nick Derbyshire (ex-Essex and Lancashire) and Ami Banerjee (formerly of Bengal). Tony Carlyon (37) and the wicketkeeper Simon Short (15 not out) rallied to boost Jersey's total to a modest 144 all out in the 47th over.

The standout bowling performances came from the former England Under-19 player, Jeremy Frith (2 for 12 in four overs), Banerjee (2 for 23 in ten) and the offspinner Gary Rich (2 for 27). Pierre Moody's seam bowling was miserly, as he conceded only 10 runs from seven overs and picked up the vital wicket of Jersey's captain, Meeku Patidar, with his first ball.

Guernsey can rarely have boasted a better side, but Jersey fought back to reduce them to 38 for 4. A brisk 26 off 29 balls from big-hitting Matt Oliver lifted their tempo, but with the match evenly balanced, Stuart Le Prevost assaulted the Jersey bowling, combining with Frith in a 78-run partnership in under 13 overs. Fittingly, Le Prevost's six over midwicket took him to his half-century from 39 balls (11 fours, one six) and sealed victory for Guernsey. Le Prevost's innings earned him the Man of the Match award.

On the domestic front, Guernsey's and Jersey's respective club championships have been decided. Rovers took the Guernsey title with five wins in eight 45-over games, finishing ahead of Cobo, Optomists, Wanderers (the 2003 champions) and Mavericks in a tightly contested competition.

Sporting Club Francais were the domimant team in Jersey, losing just once all season. Old Victorians, Romerils, St Ouen, Caesareans and Old Codgers completed the field. The champions had outstanding players in their captain, the Australian allrounder Matt Hague, who received good support from, among others, his fellow opener Steve Carlyon.

In a welcome development for Channel Islands cricket, the top four from each island now compete in the inaugural KPMG Channel Islands Club Championship. The two qualifying groups contain two teamns from each island, competing in a round-robin series held throughout August. The top two teams in each group then contest the semi-finals and final in September.

The Championship is viewed as an important development tool for both islands, ahead of separate ICC affiliate-membership applications to be decided in June 2005. It will provide the better players on both islands with the opportunity to play more often against different opposition. KPMG's sponsorship allows the competition to proceed despite the high cost of inter-island air travel.

Next week Guernsey will host Jersey, the Isle of Man and the Isle of Wight in the biennial Four Islands tournament.