Ireland and the Netherlands share trophy after ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier final is rained-off by ICC Media Release

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Event:

ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2008

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DateLine: 6th August 2008

 

Ireland and the Netherlands shared the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier trophy after the final was rained-off without a ball being bowled at Stormont in Belfast, Ireland on Tuesday.

 

After a delayed toss by 30 minutes, which Ireland won and decided to field, persistent light showers and thick cloud cover prevented the groundsmen from removing the covers from the square. The umpires, Sarika Prasad and Paul Baldwin, made a few inspections before deciding to call off the match at 1630 (local time).

 

As the final played out, Ireland will be Associate 1 in the tournament group of the the ICC World Twenty20 ground on the basis its 10th place in the Reliance Mobile ICC ODI Championship while the Netherlands will be Associate 2 as it leads the Associate ODI ranking table.

 

This means if Zimbabwe opts not to ratify its earlier decision taken at the Annual Conference to step back from the tournament, Ireland will join England and Pakistan in Group B and the Netherlands will form Group D with South Africa and New Zealand.

 

However, if Zimbabwe confirms it won’t play, Ireland will take Zimbabwe’s place in Group A (with India and Bangladesh), the Netherlands will ease into Group B (with England and Pakistan) and Scotland, which defeated Kenya in the third and fourth-place play-off on Monday, takes a position in Group D (with South Africa and New Zealand).

 

The Netherlands captain Jeroen Smits said he was disappointed with the outcome. “Obviously it is disappointing because as a cricketer, you want to go out there and try to give your best performance instead of sitting in the dressing room and waiting for the match to start.

 

“As an Associate team, we would like to play as many Twenty20 matches as possible and when one match is washed-out, it’s an opportunity lost.

 

“But as it has panned out, we are joint-winner and a winner is a winner. So I am happy,” he said.

 

Earlier in the day, Canada defeated Bermuda by eight wickets in the fifth and sixth-place play-off.

 

In overcast conditions, Canada put Bermuda into bat and bowled it out for 70 on the final ball of the 20th over. The North American side faced little problem in achieving victory in 10.3 overs.

 

Geoff Barnett scored 31 not out with five fours and Ashish Bagai scored 15 not out after John Davison had hit a rapid 19 off 13 balls with two fours and a six. However, it was Steven Welsh who walked away with the man-of-the-match award after recording figures of 3-0-6-2.

 

Scores in brief

 

Fifth and sixth-place play-off

 

Canada beat Bermuda by eight wickets

 

Bermuda 70 all out, 20 overs (Oliver Pitcher 15, Stefan Kelly 11; Steven Welsh 2-6, Harvir Baidwan 2-11, Henry Osinde 2-12, John Davison 2-16)

 

Canada 71-2, 10.3 overs (Geoff Barnett 31 not out, John Davison 19, Ashish Bagai 15 not out)

 

 

Final

 

Ireland v the Netherlands (rained-off)

 

Full scorecards are available online at:

 

www.iccworldtwenty20qualifier.com

 

For more information go to:

 

www.iccworldtwenty20qualifier.com