In lower division international cricket news, the World Cricket League division 3 got underway today, with
Canada defeating hosts Uganda as well as Oman defeating the USA and Singapore topping Malaysia.
Quote:
Canada upended hosts Uganda by 66 runs at Lugogo Stadium courtesy a vintage blitz from Rizwan Cheema. In a 42-over match delayed by two hours at the start, Canada made reasonable progress after choosing to bat, reaching 74 for 1 before left-arm spinner Henry Ssenyondo sparked a collapse of three wickets in four balls, which included the run-out of captain Nitish Kumar for 43.
Cheema arrived in the 29th over at 105 for 5 and immediately released all the pressure built up by Uganda's spinners, clattering 91 off 44 balls, including 10 sixes over the short boundaries at Lugogo, making Uganda pay dearly for dropping him three times along the way. Canada ended on 234 for 8 and Uganda never threatened to chase the runs after Cecil Pervez wiped out the top order with three wickets in his opening spell. Pervez finished with 4 for 44 as Uganda was bowled out for 168.
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This tournament serves as the first stage of qualifying for the 2019 World Cup for these minnows, with the top two advancing to
Division 2 which takes place next year. The World Cup qualifying process is really complicated, and you can read more about it at these links if you feel like trying to figure it out, but basically top two at this current tournament qualify for the next one where top 2 at that qualify for
the next round, and the top 2 of THAT one make it to the world cup. Keep winning and you're in!
Now, information about these lower level teams is pretty sparse, but it seems like Canada is in a good position to advance to division two with the win over the hosts. With the amount of teams and tournaments standing between them and the world cup it looks like qualification is a longshot, but hopefully they can put together a good campaign.