***Official***World Cup 2011 Qualifiers

[alvarez]

Uganda 118/6 chasing 173 for victory. Close one. Ireland cruising at 96/2 chasing 133 for victory.

Kenya v Scotland looks like being a close one also. Scotland 88/3 after 22 chasing 244 for victory.

Interestingly enough, Varaiya got the wicket, but he didnt bat earlier.........

 

[andruid]

Uganda 118/6 chasing 173 for victory. Close one. Ireland cruising at 96/2 chasing 133 for victory.

Kenya v Scotland looks like being a close one also. Scotland 88/3 after 22 chasing 244 for victory.

Interestingly enough, Varaiya got the wicket, but he didnt bat earlier.........

Interesting,

2 wickets for him but Scotland looking to slog the spinners.

 

[alvarez]

Interesting,

2 wickets for him but Scotland looking to slog the spinners.

I'd say there would've been a pre match agreement between the teams. Kenya need to get McCallum asap.

Also just noticed this on the scorecard

Current Match State Not Started

 

[alvarez]

I dont get why Odoyo doesnt bowl 10 overs. Scotland look like they'll get home.

EDIT: Kenya win by 7 runs. I really do think Odoyo needs to bowl 10 overs though.

 

[andruid]

I dont get why Odoyo doesnt bowl 10 overs. Scotland look like they'll get home.

EDIT: Kenya win by 7 runs. I really do think Odoyo needs to bowl 10 overs though.

Maybe they are worried about his fitness or his batting...

and is this thread being stickied or not?

 

[Chemosit]

I think the reason Odoyo hasn't bowled 10 is that they are still not sure who to include as the 5th bowler so giving the others all a chance.

Nice to get a win in the last warmup game - bring on the real thing!

 

[alvarez]

I think the reason Odoyo hasn't bowled 10 is that they are still not sure who to include as the 5th bowler so giving the others all a chance.

Nice to get a win in the last warmup game - bring on the real thing!

Yep, I cant wait. As I said earlier, I think Kenya might be holding back their best lineup until the real thing begins.

Have been pretty impressed with the Dutch in the leadup to this. Wednesdays game should be a cracker.

 

[Steulen]

An interesting interview with Dutch captain Jeroen Smits in De Volkskrant today (a Dutch nationwide broadsheet comparable to The Guardian in England, I'd say), and here is the interview if you want to practice your Dutch .

He compares the status of the team to European football nations, and says that the cricket team managed to climb from the level of Malta (i.e., completely rubbish whipping boys) to that of Macedonia (i.e., fairly rubbish but capable of the occasional upset; he probably uses Macedonia because the Dutch football team plays a WC qualifier against them on Wednesday).

He also says that the only way further forward is 'doing an Ireland': beating one of the big teams in a World Cup. He talks about the increased professionalism of the team, and the boot camp they did with the Dutch paratroopers.

He also says that this month's tournament to qualify for WC2011 is far more important than the T20 WC matches at Lord's in June, because qualification for 2011 will ensure four more years of ICC funding which the Dutch board desperately needs. He relates the tale of how he was once asked to come play for an English county 2nd XI (with possible stints in the 1st XI as the then England keeper was with that county as well), but was only offered a student's salary so he had to decline the offer as it would have damaged his career too much...that's how it is in the amateur world.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

An interesting interview with Dutch captain Jeroen Smits in De Volkskrant today (a Dutch nationwide broadsheet comparable to The Guardian in England, I'd say), and here is the interview if you want to practice your Dutch

Decent length interview

He can't imagine that the World Cup will be played in the subcontinent, either - nor that he will play in it, as he imagines a new keeper will be groomed (Allema, maybe? A Frisian playing cricket? Would need to make his club side first though. ). Not sure whether he has sufficient inside information on that to be trusted, though.

 

[Steulen]

Decent length interview

He can't imagine that the World Cup will be played in the subcontinent, either - nor that he will play in it, as he imagines a new keeper will be groomed (Allema, maybe? A Frisian playing cricket? Would need to make his club side first though. ). Not sure whether he has sufficient inside information on that to be trusted, though.

Buurman is the second keeper normally, don't really know if he's still in the picture. Kweek thinks he's a better keeper than Smits anyway.

What's Ozymandias doing in your sig, btw?

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Buurman is the second keeper normally, don't really know if he's still in the picture. Kweek thinks he's a better keeper than Smits anyway.

He's 27 though, Smits made it sound like they were thinking of grooming a new one. Not trusting the Voorburg bias.

What's Ozymandias doing in your sig, btw?

Showing off, mainly. Tends to be what he did best.

 

[Steulen]

Showing off by quoting Ozymandias is the very height of irony, indeed.

Look at my works, ye mighty, and despair!

 

[Kweek]

Showing off by quoting Ozymandias is the very height of irony, indeed.

Look at my works, ye mighty, and despair!

perse keeping skills Buurman is imho better BUT Smits is a persona, good sledger, talker and has flair, some of lacked by Buurman...

Buurman needs to learn to be less explosive and work on his overall game, normal match flow would look like 0-55-10, he has talent and potential but maturity in his game.

 

[Steulen]

Prediction time! First round of matches tomorrow:


Group A:

Canada vs. Oman: should be an easy win for Canada, although you never know which Davison et al. are going to turn up

Ireland vs. Scotland: Ireland wasn't too convincing in the warm-ups, so I'm going for an upset win for the Scots. A close one between two teams who should easily make it to the S8's, but the loser of this one will be worried about Namibia getting a top-two finish in the group.

Namibia vs. Uganda: Namibia is the dark horse for WC qualification and should start their campaign with a win over Uganda.


Group B:

Afghanistan vs. Denmark: Afghanistan have done brilliantly well to get this far, but have just lost one of their most experienced player for...uhmmm...not being an Afghan. If Klokker clicks, this one should go to the Danes quite easily, so I'm predicting just that: Denmark to win.

Bermuda vs. UAE: Bermuda suprised everyone by coming through the qualifying last time around, and their experience at the next level will come in handy. Nevertheless, this one may be too close too call. But since I'm not going to be a bloody fencesitter...Bermuda to win.

Kenya vs. The Netherlands: Together with the Celtic derby the biggest match of the round and this one is a real 50/50 one, I feel. The Dutch batting looks in fine order, as always there are some worries about the bowling, though. If only Nannes etc. The Kenyans are starting to look good, beating Scotland in the last warm-up. I'm going to predict a Dutch win, but purely based on my own orange bias. In all fairness, whoever loses this one should still qualify from the group in 2nd place.

 

[Magrat Garlick]

Canada
Oireland
Namibia
Danmark
UAE
Kenya

 

[Athlai]

Canada
Ireland
Namibia
Denmark
UAE
Netherlands

 

[Goughy]

Canada
Ireland
Namibia
Denmark
UAE
Kenya

 

[Kweek]

Canada
Ireland
Namibia
Denmark
Bermuda
Netherlands

 

[andruid]

Prediction time! First round of matches tomorrow:


Group A:

Canada vs. Oman:
Canada: More exp and batting

Ireland vs. Scotland:
Ireland: generally out do their celtic neighbours

Namibia vs. Uganda:
Namibia: again 5they have more exposure

Group B:
Bermuda vs. UAE:
Bermuda: they have been playing better of late

Kenya vs. The Netherlands:
Kenya: home bias and that they are in more 'familiar condition

 

[Chemosit]

Canada > Oman
Ireland > Scotland
Namibia > Uganda
Bermuda > UAE
Afghanistan > Denmark (my upset of the round - I think they will win one, and this is their best chance)
Kenya > Netherlands