Netherlands beat Bermuda in World T20 qualifier

Dubai, Nov 18 (IANS/CMC) Bermuda's fairytale start to the ICC World Twenty20 qualifiers ended when they were crushed by eight wickets by the Netherlands at the ICC Academy ground here.

Bermuda, who began the tournament with Group B victories over Scotland and Denmark, were no match for the Dutch despite an explosive half-century by skipper Janeiro Tucker Sunday.

Tucker smashed seven fours and two sixes in his 25-ball 51 and Lionel Cann made 33 in Bermuda's 144/8 but South Africa-born openers Stephan Myburgh and Wesley Barresi made light of their task, adding 108, as the Dutch cruised to victory with four overs to spare.

Myburgh hit seven fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 78 from 53 balls while Barresi's 45 off 32 balls included three fours and three sixes.

Slow bowler Jacobi Robinson was Bermuda's only successful bowler, taking 2/27 from four overs.

Bermuda next play Wednesday when they face Afghanistan, who ended Papua New Guinea's unbeaten run with a six-wicket victory via the Duckworth/Lewis method after heavy rain lashed the ground in Sharjah.

PNG rattled up 167/6 in their 20 overs before Afghanistan were set a revised target of 69 from seven overs, which they achieved off the final ball.

The US (128/8) suffered their second defeat in three starts, losing their Group A match to Namibia (163/4) by 35 runs.

Pick of the US attack were off-break bowler Karan Ganesh (2/14 from four overs) and left-arm medium pacer Elmore Hutchinson (2/31 from three).

Left-hander Steven Taylor made 44 at the top of the US order but found little support. Former West Indies slow bowler Neil McGarrell chipped in with 21 not out at No.9 but it was too little, too late against the African side, who earned their first win of the tournament.

Unbeaten Ireland top the group after securing their third victory, edging hosts United Arab Emirates by five runs in Abu Dhabi.

Sixteen countries are competing in the tournament with the top three in each group advancing to next year's World T20 in Bangladesh.

Brief scores:

Group A: Namibia (163/4) beat United States (128/8) by 35 runs; Ireland (138/5) beat United Arab Emirates (133) by five runs.

Group B: Netherlands (145/2) beat Bermuda (144/8) by eight wickets; Afghanistan (72/4) beat Papua New Guinea (167/6) by six wickets (D/L method). Target 69 in seven overs.

--IANS/CMC

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