ICC EUROPE MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Lord’s Cricket Ground, London, 2 May 2014
www.icc-europe.org
#division3
Belgium and Spain finish day 2 with 100% records
Countries separated by net run rate at top of the table
After day 2 of the Pepsi ICC Europe Division 3 Belgium are sitting top of the table with a 100% record and are only separated with Spain on net run rate, after both countries got 2 wins out of 2.
On the afternoon of day two Belgium were in the mood defeating Hellas by 27 runs. Abdul Rehman was the star of the show for Belgium’s batting line up with 60 runs from 39 balls the innings included 5 fours and 5 sixes. The innings started well with Sheikh Muhammad scoring 30 off 35 balls before being bowled by Goustis and caught Bogdos; Goustis who put in a fantastic bowling display 5 wickets for 6 runs. Farmiloe contributed with 10 before Rehman let loose, Latif (14) scored some useful runs before they were all out for 128.
Hellas reply was steady with contributions from a number of the order Goustis (18), Bogdos (27) and Manousis (15) kept the chase in sight. However, Belgium bowler Watambwa proved too dangerous with figures of 4 wickets for 9 runs, Hellas could not put together a partnership to get them in contention towards the end. They finished on 101 for 7.
In the day’s other match Israel comfortably beat Finland by 5 wickets. Kamal (24) managed the only real contribution to Finland’s innings before Islam (35 not out) and Bhatia (13) put on a partnership to get Finland up to 115 for 9. The star bolwer for Israel was Evans who took 4 wickets for 23 runs. Israel’s innings was dominated by Rajith Manikka Arachichige (46 not out) and Evans (33) which led to a comfortable chase for Israel and they won by 5 wickets.
It was a sunny and hot day in La Manga for the opening morning of the tournament season at the Pepsi ICC Europe Division 3 with Spain and Belgium both posting wins. The hosts’ first match was against Hellas and Spain batsman Munib Ranjah was the star of the innings with 60 runs from 34 balls including 8 fours and 2 sixes.
Other significant contributions were made from Ahmed (39) and opener Khan (27), a quickfire 18 from the captain Tanveer Iqbal pushed Spain’s total to 187 for 8. Hellas captain Anastasios Manousis took 3 wickets for 28 runs in 2 overs.
First ball wicket for Spain with Goustis out for LBW off Iqbal’s bowling got Hellas off to the worst possible start. They were soon 5 runs for 2 wickets when Bogdos was bowled by Ranjah. Captain Manousis steadied the ship with 52 runs from 41 balls with 3 fours and 3 sixes. The run rate got ahead of Hellas and they ended up on 111 for 7 wickets and Spain coasted to victory by 76 runs. Spain’s Mehmood was the pick of the bowlers with 2 wickets for 18 runs.
In the morning’s other match Belgium beat Israel by 57 runs, Jamie Farmiloe (39) and Abdul Rehman (32) were the key batsman for Belgium, complemented by 21 from Latif down the order, put them in a good position on 168 for 8 after 20 overs. Israel’s Issac Massil got 2 wickets for 16 runs.
Israel’s reply consisted of a lot of starts but not many batsmen capitalising on the promise of a big innings. Josh Evans scored 36 runs from 32 balls with 1 four and 3 sixes before being bowled by Watambwa caught Khaliq. Captain Solomon scored 22 runs leaving Israel on 98-5, two runs outs followed by Rehman, Israel ended on 129-9 in its 20 overs and Belgium won by 57 runs.
The afternoon’s matches were close affairs with another victory for Spain and Israel bounced back with a win.
Finland had a steady innings in its first match against Spain, opener Mahmada Achchige had the most impact with 58 runs from 41 balls with 4 fours and 3 sixes. There was a helpful contribution from Bhandari (23) towards the end of the innings as they finished on 153 for 7. The outstanding bowler for Spain was Mehmood who got 3 wickets for 36 runs.
Spain’s reply was strong with opener Kahn scoring 8 fours for his 46 runs, before being run out by Kamal. Nisar Ahmed (25 not out) and Mahmood (26) kept Spain on the required run rate and with Finland pushing them into the final over, Spain managed to get over the line with 5 balls remaining winning by 4 runs.
Hellas and Israel fought out a close match, with Israel batting first the innings centred around three contributions opener Hoffman (25), Evans (34) and Massil (24). Hellas bowler Souvlakis did the most damage picking up 3 wickets for 28 runs. Israel finished on 147/9.
Hellas’ reply was all about two partnerships with opening pair Goustis (22) and Souvlakis (17) putting on 43 for the first wicket. Israel fought back with two wickets, before Manousis (21) and Koutsoufis (60 not out) took Hellas to the brink of victory. It came down to the final over with Hellas scoring the winning runs with 2 balls spare and winning by 5 wickets.
Images from Pepsi ICC Europe Division 3 are on ICC Europe’s Facebook page.
Scores in brief:
At La Manga 1 on Day 1- 30 April 2014
Spain 187 for 8, 20 overs (Ranjah 60, Ahmed 39; Manousis 3-28)
Hellas 111 for 7, 20 overs (Manousis 52; Mehmood 2-18)
Spain won by 76 runs
At La Manga 2 on Day 1- 30 April 2014
Belgium 168 for 8, 20 overs (Farmiloe 39, Rehman 32; Massil 2-16)
Israel 129 for 9, 20 overs (Evans 36, Solomon 22; Watambwa 2-19)
Belgium won by 57 runs
At La Manga 1 on Day 1- 30 April 2014
Israel 147 for 9, 20 overs (Evans 34, Hoffman 25; Souvlakis 3-28)
Hellas 148 for 5, 19.4 overs (Koutsoufis 60 not out, Goustis 22; Rajith Manikka Arachichige 2-14)
Hellas won by 5 wickets
At La Manga 2 on Day 1- 30 April 2014
Finland 153 for 7, 20 overs (Mahmada Achchige 58, Bhandari 23; Mehmood 3-36)
Spain 157 for 6, 19.1 overs (Kahn 46, Mahmood 26; Bhatia 2-19)
Spain won by 4 wickets
At La Manga 1 on Day 2- 1 May 2014
Israel 116 for 5, 18.1 overs (Islam 35, Kamal 24; Evans 4-23)
Finland 115 for 9, 20 overs (Islam 35 not out, Kamal 24; Evans 4-23)
Israel won by 5 wickets
At La Manga 2 on Day 2- 1 May 2014
Belgium 128 all out, 19.5 overs (Rehman 60, Sheikh Muhammad 30; Goustis 5-6)
Hellas 101 for 7, 20 overs (Bogdos 27; Watambwa 4-9)
Belgium won by 27 runs
The Pepsi ICC Europe Division 3 table is available on www.icc-europe.org via Cric HQ
Friday’s Fixtures:
At La Manga 1: Finland v Belgium Match is scheduled to start at 15.00 CET
At La Manga 2: Spain v Israel Match is scheduled to start at 15.00 CET
Saturday’s Fixtures:
At La Manga 1: Belgium v Spain Match is scheduled to start at 10.00 CET
At La Manga 2: Hellas v Finland Match is scheduled to start at 10.00 CET
Note to Editors:
Due to unforeseen changes to the Cric HQ system, those accessing live scoring will have to login via the Cric HQ website, this will be reverted back in due course, but will take some time.
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