2005 ICC Intercontinental Cup

The 2005 ICC Intercontinental Cup was the second edition of the ICC Intercontinental Cup, a cricket competition for (then) 12 nations from Asia, Africa, North America and Europe. All the games were scheduled for three days and were designated first class.

The teams played each other team in each of the four groups once. The winners of each group progressed to a semi-final from 23 to 25 October, and then a final from 27 to 29 October, hosted by Namibia. The groups were as follows:

*Africa: Kenya, Namibia, Uganda (won by Kenya)
*Asia: Hong Kong, Nepal, United Arab Emirates (won by the United Arab Emirates)
*Europe: Netherlands, Ireland, Scotland (won by Ireland)
*N America: Bermuda, Canada, Cayman Islands (won by Bermuda)

The United States were going to compete in the North American group, but were expelled from the competition by the ICC because of ongoing political problems within cricket in the US.

The tournament was won by Ireland who defeated
Kenya in the final.

Playing conditions

The competition was run by the International Cricket Council to support the development of the longer form of the game in 12 of its associate members. The points system had been determined so as to encourage positive play. For instance, there were 14 points for a win, and the first innings was restricted to 90 overs, which can support good attacking play as a team approaches the 90 over mark. In the event of a tie (ie all wickets down in the last innings with the scores being equal) each side was awarded 7 points.

Bonus points for batting were available for every 25 runs scored. There was no limit to how many points can be scored in the first innings, but batting points were restricted to 4 points (300 runs) in the second. 0.5 points were available for every wicket taken.

Match details

Africa Group

"29-31 July: Netherlands (5.5pts) drew with Scotland (4pts)"

The Scots went into this tournament as favourites, being holders of the Intercontinental Cup and the ICC Trophy. However, rain in Utrecht prevented them from a good start against the Dutch, who bowled well enough to have them all out for 217 on the first day. Ian Stanger hit his second first-class fifty and Ryan Watson 46, but South African-born Ryan ten Doeschate took three important, albeit expensive, wickets and medium-pacer Edgar Schiferli finished with four for 46. In reply, Maurits van Nierop lashed out, taking 24 off the Scottish bowlers as the Dutch made 31 for 0 to see them to stumps on day 1. Play was impossible on the next two days, and the Scots now needed to thump Ireland in Aberdeen if they were to have any hope of qualifying for the semi-finals. [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005/OTHERS/ICC-CONT/SCORECARDS/NL_SCOT_ICC-CONT_29-31JUL2005.html]

"13-15 August: Ireland (30.5pts) beat Scotland (17pts) by three runs"

The start of the match at Aberdeen was delayed due to rain, but when it did get underway, Ireland immediately got into trouble. The first two partnerships didn't add a single run, four batsmen departed for ducks, and Craig Wright got four wickets for the hosting Scots. Ireland crumbled to 128 for 9 before 17-year-old Greg Thompson from Lisburn hit 35 from number 10 to become the top scorer of the innings. Steven Knox hit 38 for the Scots, however, as they moved to 104 for 2. Tight bowling frustrated the Scots, who were looking for quick runs, but at least Cedric English hit 66 to lift them to 234 - a lead of 62. Ryan Watson and Dewald Nel got a wicket each before stumps, the Irish second innings score 46 for 2. Dominic Joyce, brother of more famous Ed, came to the crease as the new batsman on the third morning, and he scored 61 before being lbw to Dewald Nel - a crucial innings. The rest of the batsmen stuck in, defending against Paul Hoffmann, who bowled 18 overs for 33 runs, but only got the one wicket.

The Scots - needing a victory after the wash-out in Utrecht against the Dutch - went after the target. But the former Essex bowler, Adrian McCoubrey, took four for 17 as the Scots crashed to 34 for four, and despite 31 not out from Craig Wright, his two last partners were both run out, and Scotland finished on 131 - four runs short of victory. Thus, the finalists of the last tournament were knocked out before the last game. [http://live.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005/OTHERS/ICC-CONT/SCORECARDS/SCOT_IRELAND_ICC-CONT_13-15AUG2005.html]

"23-25 August: Ireland (11pts) drew with Netherlands (6pts)"

The first day of the match at Stormont, Belfast was rained off, and Ireland, knowing that plenty of runs would give them enough to see them through to the semi-finals, chose to bat out 90 overs. The entire top order contributed with half-centuries and centuries - Jeremy Bray top scoring 135 - as the Dutch bowlers were slaughtered, debutant Ernst van Giezen taking two for 107 as the best bowler. Ireland declared on 407 for 4, having realised they could get no more points, and immediately dug into the Dutch top order. A recovery was staged thanks to a 115-run stand between Ryan ten Doeschate and Alexei Kervezee, but when Andre Botha took two wickets the Dutch realised the futility of their task. The match was eventually abandoned as a draw, which sent Ireland into the semi-finals of the tournament. [http://usa.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005/OTHERS/ICC-CONT/SCORECARDS/IRELAND_NL_ICC-CONT_23-25AUG2005.html]

Americas Group

ee also

ICC Intercontinental Cup

References

* [http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/events/intercontinental/ ICC's webpage on the ICC Interncontinental Cup]
* [http://uk.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/2005/OTHERS/ICC-CONT/ Cricinfo]
* [http://www.cricketnepal.org/ Cricket Association of Nepal]