Dubai , 15 July 2008
Full points from game against Canada starting tomorrow can put pressure on top teams
Scotland has not lost hope of getting through to the final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup final after a resounding win over Bermuda in Hamilton .
The 2004 champion had been all but written off in this year’s competition after some disappointing early results. But securing the maximum 20 points in Bermuda has given the team a real boost and if it wins its last two games and other results go its way, it could yet make it through.
Tomorrow (Wednesday) Scotland goes head to head with Canada knowing that another maximum return is essential. And it is something in-form opening batsman Fraser Watts is focusing on. The 29-year-old scored 176 runs in the match against Bermuda and will be keen for that form to continue when he faces up to the Canadians in King City , Ontario .
“Things have been going well so far on this trip and we are keen to push on and get maximum points from our remaining two games in the competition,” said Watts, who hit innings of 93 and 83 in Bermuda .
“That was a good match, and the result was by no means a foregone conclusion, even on the final day. I believe our squad adapted well to the hot, dry conditions, and coped with everything the Bermudians could throw at us. Now we are looking to our game against Canada to put pressure on those countries at the top of the Intercontinental Cup table.
“It’s still possible for us to get through to the final and while it won’t be easy, we will be looking to make the teams above us on the table sweat a little bit,” he said.
Scotland coach Peter Steindl was also pleased with his side’s performance in Bermuda and he feels it has what it takes to take on last year’s beaten finalist in King City .
“We were not surprised to find the ball turning square out of the hands of Dwayne Leverock, and our own left-arm spinner (Ross Lyons) also had a good game,” said Steindl.
“But I was particularly pleased with the way our seamers also enjoyed success. It was a pleasure playing at such a well-appointed venue. We didn’t know what to expect in Bermuda because we had not been there before but it is a great place to play and the crowd really know their cricket.
“We are now thinking about Canada and the pitches there should suit our seam attack so if we can hit our right length I think we will be tough to beat. But Canada have some quality players so we know we’ll have to be at our best to beat them.
“At this stage, we have to get full points whenever we play so we’ll be going out there to attack and try to force victory at all times. A draw is no good us,” he said.
Despite a maiden first-class century from Steven Outerbridge Bermuda was unable to avoid defeat at the hands of Scotland in the ICC Intercontinental Cup match played at the National Stadium, Hamilton with the visitors eventually getting home by 107 runs.
Having been dismissed for just 106 in the first innings, it was always going to be tough for the home side to save the match as it chased Scotland ’s opening bid of 282.
But Outerbridge did his best to do just that managing 113 before he was finally caught by wicketkeeper Colin Smith off the bowling of Dewald Nel for an innings that lasted 250 balls and included 13 boundaries.
For Scotland Lyons bowled beautifully in the second innings, finishing with figures of 4-55 off 27.4 overs. He was well supported by Nel (3-64) as Bermuda was all out for 265 in its second dig and fell 107 runs short on the fourth and final day.
In the context of the ICC Intercontinental Cup table, the Scots move up one place past the Netherlands and into fourth position. The Dutch lost their game last week to defending champion Ireland and as such, Scotland , who won this event in 2004, still harbour hopes of a place in the final.
ICC Intercontinental Cup table (as of 15 July)
Team P W L D Pts
Namibia 5 5 0 0 82
Ireland 4 3 0 1 69
Kenya 4 3 1 0 66
Scotland 5 2 1 2 52
Netherlands 6 3 3 0 48
UAE 7 1 5 1 29
Canada 5 1 4 0 26
Bermuda 6 1 5 0 26
Six points for first innings lead
14 points for a win (so, maximum of 20 points per match)
Three points for a draw
Top two sides qualify for the final at a venue to be confirmed
Remaining fixtures:
16-19 Jul – Canada v Scotland , King City , Toronto
7-10 Aug – Ireland v Canada , Clontarf, Dublin
7-10 Aug – Scotland v Kenya , Titwood, Glasgow
16-19 Aug – Netherlands v Kenya , Amstelveen , Netherlands
3-6 Sep – Namibia v Bermuda, Wanderers, Windhoek
5-8 Oct – Namibia v Ireland , Wanderers, Windhoek
12-15 Oct – Kenya v Ireland , Nairobi
The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now the ICC’s premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members’ cricket schedule.
Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.
Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada in the 2006-07 event.
The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 at a venue yet to be confirmed.
ICC MEDIA RELEASE
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