World Cup Preliminaries

Game 1

Anamul mauls Afghanistan

Afghanistan were hounded out by hosts, Bangladesh, 72 all out. Cricinfo had their headline on their home page of "Shahzad out first ball", which initially grabbed my Outlaw attention but the Shahzad in question was Mohammed rather than Ajmal and he was out ball 1, in over 1 of game 1.


Bangladesh fielded a number of players that were seen at Trent Bridge last year (including Anamul Haque), against a weakened Outlaws XI as well as former Outlaw Tamim Iqbal (21) and the Pear/Fox Shakib Al Hasan (10*).

Bangladesh completed a 9 wicket victory in over 12 of their innings - Anamul Haque top scorer with 44*, hitting the final ball of the game for six. Bangladesh did have 48 balls spare however.

Game 2

Nepal made light work of fellow minnows, Hong Kong, with a 80 run win

Game 3 

On St Patrick's Day, Ireland squeaked past Zimbabwe by 3 wickets off the 120th ball of their innings, running a bye.

Game 4

Netherlands made light work of UAE, just like that - Tom Cooper 2/18, 34*, a six wicket win.

Game 5

Afghanistan had an easy 7 wicket win over Hong Kong, thanks to that other Shahzad.

Game 6

Anamul ran wild and top scored for the home team at Chittagong, Bangladesh beating Nepal by 8 wickets.

Meanwhile in a warm-up game, West Indies easily beat England again - Hales nor Lumb firing, but at least it was only a practice.

In a second warm - up verses India, a similar fate befell England - losing by 20 runs. The Notts openers getting a start but not kicking on, but again, at least it was only practice.


Game 7
Zimbabwe sweated out a last ball win this time, over the Netherlands in spite of the Cooper boys. Brendan Taylor was Zimbabwe's main contributor. 

Games 8

Ed Joyce took Ireland to a D/L being 21 runs ahead of the rate at the game's curtailment due to rain against UAE.