2006 ICC Intercontinental Cup

The 2006 ICC Intercontinental Cup was the third edition of the ICC Intercontinental Cup first class cricket tournament, an international cricket tournament between nations who have not been awarded Test status by the International Cricket Council. Defending champions Ireland won the tournament after three wins and one drawn game, defeating Canada by an innings in the final, and stretched their streak of unbeaten matches in the Intercontinental Cup to eight.

The tournament lasted from 22 March 2006 to 23 May 2007. The number of participants was cut from 12 teams to eight following the 2005 edition, but the matches were lengthened from three to four days, and each team qualifying for the main stage played three games, instead of two in the 2005 and 2004 editions [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/icccont/content/story/227844.html Intercontinental Cup to become truly global] , from Cricinfo, 30Nov2005] .

The eight teams played in two groups of four, with the winners of each group proceeding to the finalwhich was played between Ireland and Canada at Grace Road in Leicester [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/icccont/content/series/234441.html?template=schedule Schedule] from Cricinfo, retrieved 24 April 2007] . The game was scheduled for 22 to 25 May 2007, but in the event Ireland won inside two days. All teams without Test status which qualified for the 2007 Cricket World Cup participated, along with United Arab Emirates and the winner of the challenge match between Namibia and Nepal (runners-up in Africa and Asia in the 2005 edition).

Participating teams

Europe:cr|IRE, cr|NLD, cr|SCO

Africa:cr|KEN, cr|NAM

Asia:cr|ARE

North America:cr|BER, cr|CAN

Tournament organisation

Each team played the other three teams in a group once in a round robin format; the winners of each group qualify for the final [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/icc-cont/content/story/242578.html Big guns kick off competition] , by Brian Murgatroyd, published on Cricinfo 28 March 2006] .

Points summary: [http://www.cricketeurope2.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000023/002313.shtml ICC reveals playing conditions for Intercontinental Cup] , by Rod Lyall, published by Cricketeurope on 28 March 2006] .
* 14 points were awarded for a win
* 7 points were awarded to both teams for a tie
* 6 points for a first-innings lead
* 3 points to both teams if the teams were tied on first innings
* 3 points for a draw if more than eight hours were lost to weather conditions; else no points for a draw
* 10 points to both teams in the event of an abandoned match (equivalent to a tie + a first innings tie)

Matches lasted four days, with a minimum over rate of 16 per hour, i.e. 96 a day. If the scheduled minimum was not met by the end of the day, an extra half hour of play were allowed. Otherwise, the normal rules of first class cricket applied.

Results

Challenge Match: Namibia v Nepal

cotland v Namibia

Namibia opened the group by playing two matches in Europe in May, starting at Mannofield Park against Scotland. After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Namibia lost both openers to opposing captain Craig Wright, and after Namibia's captain Deon Kotze went for a half-hour three, Namibia were 73 for four. Gerrie Snyman put on 70 with Sarel Burger for the fifth wicket, but spinner Ross Lyons got both of them out to end with figures of four for 10 in the first innings, and Paul Hoffmann also got two wickets as Namibia were bowled out for 168. Scotland responded with 95 for three on the first day, with Ryan Watson being 62 not out overnight, and he converted that into his maiden first class century on a second day with only 48.5 of the stipulated 104 overs due to rain [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/icc-cont/content/story/246964.html Watson defies the gloom] , from Cricinfo, published 12 May 2006] . Scotland were 274 for four overnight, then fell to 279 for six on the third morning when Neil McCallum and Watson were out, but a partnership of 68 for the seventh wicket between Wright and Dewald Nel helped Scotland put together a total of 360. Hoffmann then took five wickets in his opening spell, of which four were bowled and a fifth lbw, to end the match with figures of 9–4–14–5, and though Namibia recovered from 35 for five to an eventual total of 127, they still lost by an innings and 65 runs inside three days.

Ireland v Namibia

The following week, Namibia became the first team to be eliminated from the tournament final after their defeat in Dublin. Despite a better effort from the bowlers, who took fifteen wickets (of which Ian van Zyl took nine) for fewer runs than they had conceded in Scotland, Namibia totalled 226 runs - 87 of them coming from No. 9 Kola Burger. The first day's play was called off due to rain, but on the second day Ireland bowled out Namibia for 95, with captain Trent Johnston taking six for 23. Ian van Zyl responded in kind on the following day, taking eight for 34, but Johnston's 71 helped his side from 87 for seven to a total of 173. Namibia then fell to 22 for six, still trailing by 56 runs, but with the help of 48 from Kola Burger they set a target of 54 to win, and Burger then took three wickets as Ireland lost their first four for 25. However, after 21 from Eoin Morgan, Ireland made it to the target with the loss of just one further wicket.

cotland v Ireland

This match, held a week after the European Championship which Ireland won, saw Scotland win the toss and bat at Mannofield Park. Dave Langford-Smith took his first five-wicket-haul in first class cricket, as Scotland were bowled out for 265, and described as "struggling" by Cricinfo. [ [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/icc-cont/content/story/256793.html Scotland struggle after Langford-Smith's five] , from Cricinfo, retrieved 22 August 2006] Langford-Smith took the first three wickets as Scotland fell to 58 for four, before Ryan Watson built a stand of 66 with Neil McCallum, the highest of the game. The bottom five partnerships contributed more than the top five, however, as Scotland managed 265 all out; John Blain was last out, having made 53.

Dougie Brown replied with a five-wicket-haul, however; Ireland got to 129 for two, then lost eight wickets for 45 runs, including a partnership of 30 between Andrew White and Kyle McCallan. Scotland lost four wickets before the second day's close, however, with Irish captain Trent Johnston taking three as they were 24 for four after twelve overs, and with the umpire turning down "a huge shout" when Neil McCallum edged the ball. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/icc-cont/content/story/257025.html Irish frustration boils over] , from Cricinfo, retrieved 20 June 2006]

Overnight rain then seeped in under the covers, resulting in a damp pitch, and the third day's play was called off. Irish wicket-keeper Niall O'Brien reacted by having words with the Aberdeen groundsman, and a formal report has been submitted on the incident. Despite no more rain falling during the hours of play, the fourth day was also called off, and the match declared a draw with Scotland gaining nine points and Ireland three. [ [http://www.cricketeurope4.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000030/003039.shtml Irish season ends in frustration] , by Ian Callender, published by CricketEurope, retrieved 22 August 2006]

Group B

Kenya v Netherlands

Kenya and the Netherlands opened the group stages in Nairobi. Brian Murgatroyd wrote on Cricinfo that the match "would be a tricky one to predict". Kenya had come off losing all four ODIs in their series against Bangladesh, and had dropped five players, including wicketkeeper Kennedy Otieno who had played 71 ODIs and 29 first class games [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/icc-cont/content/story/242509.html Otieno dropped as Kenya make changes] , by Martin Williamson, published by Cricinfo 28 March 2006] for Maurice Ouma, following Otieno's total of eight runs on the Bangladesh tour. Otieno vowed to quit international cricket as a result [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/kenya/content/story/242621.html Axed Otieno threatens to quit] , from Cricinfo, 29 March 2006] . For the Netherlands, Pieter Seelaar and Billy Stelling were unavailable [ [http://www.cricketeurope2.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000023/002312.shtml Kenyans bring in three from A side; Dutch delay selection] , by Rod Lyall, published by CricketEurope on 28 March 2006] , while Bas Zuiderent recovered from a stomach upset to open the batting and make 26 after Dutch captain Luuk van Troost won the toss at Nairobi Gymkhana and chose to bat. Three more players passed 25 on the first day; Ryan ten Doeschate spent five hours at the crease and made 158, described as "faultless" by CricketEurope correspondent Rod Lyall [http://www.cricketeurope2.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000023/002317.shtml Dutch edge first day] by Rod Lyall, published on Cricketeurope on 29 March 2006] , while Daan van Bunge added 32 and captain van Troost was unbeaten on 29. First class debutant Ashish Karia got the best figures on the first day, with two for 18 [ [http://sl.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2006/OTHERS/ICC-CONT/SCORECARDS/KENYA_NL_ICC-CONT_29MAR-01APR2006.html Kenya v Netherlands at Nairobi, 29 Mar - 1 Apr 2006] , from Cricinfo, retrieved 29 March 2006] , but Lyall claimed Peter Ongondo was the pick of the bowlers. Hitesh Modi broke his finger when attempting to catch Tim de Leede, and according to Lyall, he was "unlikely to take any further part in the match".

Netherlands made more runs on the second day, with van Troost and Edgar Schiferli sharing an Intercontinental Cup record ninth-wicket partnership worth 95 [ [http://www.cricketeurope2.net/DATABASE/ARTICLES/articles/000023/002319.shtml Dutch set record total] by Rod Lyall, published by Cricketeurope on 30 March] . During the partnership, the Dutch also surpassed the previous highest Intercontinental Cup total, of 444 for 4 between Ireland and UAE. They were eventually bowled out for 474, Schiferli hitting to Collins Obuya for 69, and Kenya got a chance to bat shortly before tea. They faced 52 second-day overs, with five batsmen making it into double figures, but only captain Steve Tikolo could convert it into a score past 25, as the Dutch snared five wickets. Darron Reekers got the best bowling figures, with two for 28. Reekers failed to take any wickets on the third day, however, when Kenya fought back – they scored 197 runs on that day, for the loss of four wickets (compared to 135 for 5 on the first), with Peter Ongondo lasting two and a half hours in a 123-run eighth-wicket stand with Steve Tikolo. Netherlands then got two wickets in successive overs, and Kenya were 315 for 9, nine short of the follow on with the injured Modi still in the pavilion. He stepped out with one arm in a strap, batting one-handed to see out the day as Kenya totalled 332 for 9.

Modi and Tikolo put on 35 more before Modi was out to van Bunge, who thus ended with the best bowling figures for the Netherlands, with his three for 51, while Tikolo was not out on 212, his second double century in the Intercontinental Cup [ [http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results1.cgi?playernumber=2264&matchtype=FirstClass&searchtype=InningsList CricketArchive Player Oracle] ] . It left the Netherlands with a lead of 107, and as they did not want to give Kenya the 14 points available for the win, they batted out the day for a draw. Van Bunge ended unbeaten on 70, while five Kenyan bowlers got a wicket each, and when stumps were drawn on the final day Netherlands were 202 for 5.

Canada v Kenya

Kenya's next match was against Canada in Toronto, in what became a "tense" match. [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/icc-cont/content/story/255374.html Bhatti bowls Canada to tense victory] , from Cricinfo, retrieved 2 August 2006] Canada opted to bat first on a "green and...underprepared pitch", and were 102 for seven after seamers Peter Ongondo, Thomas Odoyo and Nehemiah Odhiambo had shared out the opening seven wickets. Qaiser Ali fought back with a first-class best of 91 not out, however, eventually running out of batting partners as Ongondo, Steve Tikolo and Kenya debutant Hiren Varaiya, a slow left arm bowler, took the final wickets. However, Kenya lost their first four wickets for 14 runs in the poor light (which caused play to end 20 minutes early), with both openers out without having made a run. Henry Osinde and Umar Bhatti caused the damage, with two wickets each.

On the second day, Tanmay Mishra nearly emulated Ali; he also made an unbeaten half-century from number seven, but ran out of partners six runs short of Ali's tally. After a 41-run tenth-wicket stand, Varaiya was caught by Pubudu Dassanayake to leave Kenya four short of Canada's total, which gave the hosts six points for the first innings lead.

Canada closed the second day on 52 for one, with captain John Davison out caught, and lost nightwatchman Bhatti for 6. However, opener Geoff Barnett kept on batting, first putting on 84 with Stewart Heaney (who contributed 12) and then 112 with Ashish Bagai. Barnett, who had 11 first class appearances for Central Districts Stags in New Zealand without scoring a century, now brought up 136. In the end, however, first class debutant Odhiambo got him and four others to celebrate a five-wicket-haul on debut; Canada lost seven wickets, scoring 26 runs in the meantime, and posted a target of 291 for Kenya to chase in a little more than a day.

Kenya batted out the first day losing two wickets, with opener Kennedy Otieno completing a pair of ducks, and Brijal Patel joining him as he was caught behind for nine. There was also a rejected stumping appeal against Tikolo. [ [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/icc-cont/content/story/255251.html All eyes on Tikolo] , from Cricinfo, retrieved 2 August 2006]

Kenya were left to score 246 on the final day, and the Canadian coach Andy Pick remarked that there was " [no movement] once the ball los [t] it [s] shine." The day's play "ebbed and flowed throughout", with Kenya first putting on 51 for the third wicket before Tikolo was bowled by Davison for 50, and Tony Suji followed after an 18-run fourth-wicket stand. Then Hitesh Modi added 59 with Collins Obuya before getting caught and bowled by spinner Puvendra Ravishankar, who also took the next wicket half an hour later. With 102 required and four wickets in hand, Bhatti returned to bowl, and had Odoyo and Odhiambo caught within three minutes. Collins Obuya now had two batting partners remaining: Ongondo lasted for 40 minutes without scoring a single run, Obuya notching up 17 in that time, and Hiren Varaiya lasted just as long as the tenth-wicket pairing ground out runs. However, Obuya was caught at slip by Geoff Barnett for a first-class best 89, leaving Canada winners by 25 runs. Barnett and Bhatti shared the Man of the Match award.

Canada v Bermuda

Umar Bhatti took his second successive ten-wicket-haul, helping Canada to a nine-wicket win against Bermuda. In the highest-scoring match of the tournament, with 1292 runs for 31 wickets, Canada prevailed to further extend their lead in the group, putting Kenya out of the tournament.

Bermuda batted first, and lost both openers for single-figure scores, but Clay Smith put on 99 with Irving Romaine before both were caught behind with the score stuck on 120. Dean Minors was also caught for a single-figure score, Bhatti's fourth wicket, but after that he could not take any further wickets, and Janeiro Tucker and Saleem Mukuddem made their way towards half-centuries, sharing a stand of 83 for the sixth wicket. John Davison eventually had Mukuddem out, and also Lionel Cann, two runs before he could reach his 50, and Henry Osinde took the final wicket to bowl Bermuda out for 334.

In response, Canada piled on hundreds. Davison made 165 opening the innings, leading Canada to 286 for three when he was dismissed, and sharing a stand of 230 with Ian Billcliff who went on to total 126. Ryan Steede grabbed four wickets, including Billcliff bowled, but could not stop the eighth-wicket stand between Abdool Samad (119) and Umar Bhatti (50). The two scored 149 for the eighth wicket, increasing Canada's first innings lead past 200, while Bermuda's spinner Dwayne Leverock had to bowl nearly 49 overs for two wickets, Bhatti and the No. 11 Ravishankar.

Bermuda closed the third day on 68 for one, with opener Steven Outerbridge on 35 not out. He added nine before he was caught by a substitute fielder, but Romaine, his batting partner, went on to make 65 before falling to the same fate. Clay Smith kept batting for the draw, but was seventh out to Davison, while Bhatti picked up six wickets for 104 to complete his second ten-wicket-haul in a month.

Kenya v Bermuda

The match closed with two days of rain, though Bermuda had already lost their chance to qualify for the semi-final early on the second day, after being bowled out for 133 and Kenya surpassed that score for the loss of three wickets. Thomas Odoyo took five wickets for Kenya in the first innings, and though Saleem Mukuddem responded with three on the first day and three on the second, Kenya made it to 205 all out after 66 from Steve Tikolo and 54 from Tanmay Mishra. After batting through 15 overs for no loss, Bermuda lost two wickets in an over to Hiren Varaiya and were 19 for two when bad conditions stopped play on the second day. The players could not return, and the game was called off as a draw.

Final: Canada v Ireland

Test match
date = 22 May - 25 May
team1 = cr-rt|CAN
team2 = cr|IRE

score-team1-inns1 = 92 (31.4 ov)
runs-team1-inns1 = AM Samad 29
wickets-team1-inns1 = DT Johnston 4/12

score-team2-inns1 = 352 (94.4 ov)
runs-team2-inns1 = JP Bray 146
wickets-team2-inns1 = U Bhatti 5/85

score-team1-inns2 = 145 (36.5 ov)
runs-team1-inns2 = AA Mulla 48
wickets-team1-inns2 = WK McCallan 5/34

score-team2-inns2 =
runs-team2-inns2 =
wickets-team2-inns2 =

result = cr|IRE won by an innings and 115 runs
venue = Grace Road, Leicester, England
umpires = PK Baldwin (GER) and RA Kettleborough (ENG)
motm = JP Bray (IRL)
report = [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/icccont/engine/match/247223.html Scorecard]
rain =

References and notes