Bangladesh at the double

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AFP): Bangladesh sent Scotland spinning to a seven-wicket defeat in a World Cup warm-up here on Thursday to make it two wins out of two after their stunning dismissal of New Zealand.

Scotland made a paltry 152-9 off their 50 overs at the 3Ws Oval before Bangladesh stormed to victory with the best part of 16 overs left thanks to an unbeaten 57 from skipper Habibul Bashar.

Seamers John Blain and Paul Hoffman dismissed Bangladesh openers Tamim Iqbal (7) and the highly-rated Shahriar Nafees (O) respectively but Habibul and Saqibul Hasan (45) laid the groundwork for the Asian side.

Saqibul fell to a catch by Neil McCallum off Dougie Brown with the total at 108 leaving his skipper and Mohammad Ashraful (23 not out) to see Bangladesh to a comfortable win.

Habibul's 57 was made off 76 balls and featured five fours.

Scotland had made a solid start to their innings reaching 73-2 with Navdeep Poonia (32) and Fraser Watts (28) showing some form.

But both were undone by slow left-armers Abdur Razzak (3-25) and Mohammad Rafique (2-16).
It was the second match in succession in which Razzak had caught the eye after he snared four wickets in the two-wicket win over New Zealand on Tuesday.

Bangladesh now head to Trinidad for their Group B matches against India, Sri Lanka and Bermuda while Scotland go to St Kitts for Group A games against defending champions Australia, South Africa and the Netherlands.

Zimbabwe's Williams sees off Bermuda

By Julian Guyer

KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (AFP): Sean Williams's unbeaten 72 saw Zimbabwe to a six-wicket win against Bermuda in their final World Cup warm-up match here Thursday.

Zimbabwe, far the more experienced of these two 'minnows', slumped to five for two inside two overs as they chased a modest target of 137.

But left-hander Williams, who'd impressed while making 44 in a 106-run defeat against world champions Australia on Tuesday, ensured the Africans won with 21 overs to spare as they finished on 137 for four.

Stuart Matsinkyeri was 21 not out.

Williams faced 85 balls, with two sixes and three fours.

Together with Chamu Chibhabha (30) he put on 73 for the third wicket to put Zimbabwe in sight of victory.

"We lost two quick wickets so I thought to myself, chasing 137, I've got a lot of time to bat," the 20-year-old Williams told reporters. "So I might as well try to bat through the whole innings."

Williams, still coming to terms with his knock against Australia, added: "That was awesome. Against the best bowling attack in the world I was really trying to value my wicket but I ended up giving it away and I should have got another fifty."

Zimbabwe's match-winner was on the verge of giving up at international level before a spell playing for Newcastle-based club side Claravale in north-east England revived his enthusiasm.

"I am glad I stuck with it. I went to England to get a lot of experience and then I came back and continued from where I left off."

Zimbabwe captain Prosper Utseya added: "It seems we are moving in the right direction even though we lost to Australia."

Bermuda skipper Irving Romaine, whose side were skittled out for 45 against England on Monday, was once more left bemoaning his team's batting.

"Once again, we just didn't score enough runs at this level.

"If we had batted through to 190 it would have been a decent total. But we were 50 runs short.
"We have to put a decent total on the board to gain some respect."

Williams's innings was an assured display. When giant spinner Dwayne Leverock, who made headlines all round the world after taking two for 32 against England on Monday, came on Williams lofted him for six over mid-wicket. Earlier, Janeiro Tucker's 52 was the mainstay of Bermuda's 136 after they'd collapsed to 31 for four inside 15 overs following skipper Irving Romaine's decision to bat.

Pace bowler Anthony Ireland did the damage with an opening spell of three wickets for 10 runs in six overs, including catching Glamorgan's David Hemp for nought off his own bowling. He finished with three for 22 in eight overs.

Bermuda gave themselves hope when Vusi Sibanda was caught and bowled by Kevin Hurdle for two before Duffin, Zimbabwe's other opener, was held in the slips by Clay Smith off Saleem Mukuddem for one.

But, ultimately, Bermuda's bowlers did not have enough runs to play with.

Zimbabwe's next match is in Jamaica where they play Ireland on March 15 in a Group D also featuring hosts West Indies and Pakistan.

Bermuda, in Group B, play Sri Lanka in Trinidad on March 15 before facing India and Bangladesh.

Ireland easy winners as Langford-Smith strikes

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad (AFP): Paceman Dave Langford-Smith grabbed four wickets as debutants Ireland thrashed Canada by seven wickets in a World Cup warm-up match here on Thursday.

Ireland virtually wrapped up their last practice game when they dismissed Canada for a paltry 115 in less than 33 overs, with Langford-Smith (4-41) doing the maximum damage.

The Canadian total was too small to put pressure on Ireland, who scored 116-3 to emerge winners with more than 23 overs to spare.

"We bowled in good areas and were rewarded. It was good to be in a position like we were after bowling," said Irish skipper Trent Johnston.

"Langford-Smith worked very hard after a tournament in Kenya. He is running in well, bowling well and his confidence is sky-high after getting seven or eight wickets in the first two games."

Irish opener Jeremy Bray was the match's top scorer with 41, while Andre Botha contributed an unbeaten 22.

The Canadian batsmen earlier faltered against Langford-Smith, with opener Geoff Barnett (27), Qaiser Ali (17) and Ashif Mulla (11) only reaching double-figures.

"It sure is a big disappointment. They bowled in good areas and never allowed us to play shots. I think our preparations, minus today's outing, for the World Cup are pretty well," said Canadian captain John Davison.

Langford-Smith, who took three wickets against South Africa in the opening practice game, was well-supported by Kyle McCallan who grabbed two scalps for no run.

Ireland, who tested top-ranked South Africa before losing by 35 runs, are in Group D with Pakistan, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. Canada are in Group C with England, New Zealand and Kenya.
The top two sides from each group with qualify for the Super Eight stage.

Brief scores:
Canada 115 in 32.5 overs (Geoff Barnett 27, Qaiser Ali 17, Ashif Mulla 11; Dave Langford-Smith 4-41, Kyle McCallan 2-0). Ireland 116-3 in 26.5 overs (Jeremy Bray 41, Andre Botha 22 not out).
Result: Ireland win by seven wickets.

Kenya skipper Tikolo inspires narrow win over Dutch

By Jonathan Gaskin

DANIEL TOWN, Jamaica (AFP): Kenya captain Steve Tikolo stole the show with an impressive all-round display which gave his side a nine-run victory over the Netherlands in a World Cup warm-up match here Thursday.

First, Tikolo revived his side's innings with a vital half-century that lifted them to 274 for five from their allocation of 50 overs.

The 35-year-old Tikolo then returned to claim five wickets for 48 runs from 10 overs and trigger a collapse with his clever off-spin that restricted the Netherlands to 265 for nine in their 50 overs.

The Netherlands were within reach of victory, when they cruised to 215 for three in the 44th over, but things fell apart, and they lost six wickets for 49 runs in the space of 36 balls.

Darron Reekers hit seven boundaries in the top score of 75 from 105 balls and Bas Zuiderent made 65 off 91 balls which included five fours and one six.

They had set things up for the Netherlands with an opening stand of 142, but Tikolo got the breakthrough, when he had Reekers caught at backward point in the 30th over.

The Netherlands wobbled to 169 for three, when two wickets fell in the space of six balls.

Zuiderent was caught at deep mid-wicket off Peter Ongondo in the 34th over, and Alex Kervezee was run out for a duck, when he failed to beat Collins Obuya's direct hit at the bowler's end.

Ryan ten Doeschate revived the Dutch side's chances with 50 off 46 balls which included two fours and one six.
He put on 46 for the fourth wicket with Daan van Bunge, and the Netherlands seemed to be back on track only to throw it all away with some ill-advised strokes.

Kenya dipped to 21 for three inside the first five overs, after Reekers and Mark Jonkman put them under early pressure with accurate swing bowling on a helpful Trelawny Stadium pitch.

Tikolo entered and started to repair the early damage with Tony Suji.

The pair added 104 for the fourth wicket and played some handsome strokes, both sides of the wicket.

Three wickets, all to van Bunge, in the space of 30 balls set Kenya back on 141 for six.

Thomas Odoyo, whose 73 from 49 balls was the top score, added a crucial 62 for the seventh wicket with Collins Obuya, who was caught at mid-on off Peter Borren for 33.

Odoyo then took the attack to the Netherlands bowlers, and collected three fours and four sixes in a late flurry to beef-up the total of the African side before he was dismissed off the last ball of the innings, caught at mid-on off Dutch captain Luuk van Troost.

Van Bunge was the Netherlands' most successful bowler with three for 41 from 10 overs, and Jonkman took two for 26 from 5.1 overs.

Brief scores:
Kenya 274-7 off 50 overs (Odoyo 73, Tikolo 51; Daan van Bunge 3-41)
Netherlands 265-9 off 50 overs (Reekers 75, Zuiderent 65, ten Doeschate 50; S. Tikolo 5-48).