US and Nepal qualify for Bermuda tourney
The United States and Nepal will complete the six-team line-up for Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 3 Tournament in Bermuda next April.The two countries reached the final of today’s World Cricket League Division 4 tournament in Malaysia after finishing in the top two places in the standings, with the US joining Nepal after finishing level on six points with Denmark and Singapore but ahead of them on a superior net run rate. Both teams will travel to Bermuda to join the hosts, Oman, Uganda and Italy in the Division 3 Championships from April 28 to May 5.The top two teams in Division 3 will then advance to the ICC World Cup qualifiers in 2014, from which the top two will compete in the ICC World Cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand.In Malaysia yesterday, Denmark, Singapore and USA were all bidding to join Nepal in the final, with USA eventually finishing second after beating Singapore by 37 runs. USA batted first and were dismissed for 263 in 49 overs after Sushi Madkami and Steven Taylor, the two highest scorers in the tournament so far, put on 80 for the first wicket before Taylor was bowled for 50. The youngster is well known to the Island’s national youth players, having played against the Bermuda Under 18 team during the match play tournament in Orlando in July.Some tight bowling by the Nepal spinners had USA 148-5 in the 36th over but Timroy Allen (45), Ryan Corns (24) and Elmore Hutchinson (21) took the attack to the bowlers and scored at more than eight an over to finish on 263 after 49 overs. Singapore batted for two overs at the start of their innings before heavy rain kept the players off the field for more than two hours. When they did resume their revised target was 186 off 27 overs, which ultimately proved too much for them as they finished 37 runs short.