Cayman Islands cricket team suffered an 80 run loss at the hands of hosts Singapore at the Pepsi UCC World Cricket League.

In a reduced overs mate, Cayman managed just 122 for 8 after 32 overs.

Cayman Islands’ fast bowling policeman Ryan Bovell enticed Suryawanshi into a big hit only for the wicketkeeper-batsman to be caught by Alistair Ifill. Some good catches by Ainsley Hall behind the stumps saw Ruwan and Buddhika Mendis depart and just as Anish Param and Kshitij Shinde began to add crucial runs, the heavens opened over Singapore and the players were forced off the field.

After an extended lunch interval, play resumed with the overs reduced to 32 overs and Duckworth-Lewis demanding Abali Hoilett’s side to make 203 in the shortened match.

It was a task the Caymanians were going to struggle to make against the host who are considered favourites for the event in their capital. Captain Saad Khan of Singapore combined with former captain Suryawanshi to dismiss opener Hall and from there on in the Cayman Islands were in trouble.

Much to the excitement of the local support, wickets began to tumble at Kallang with Param making an athletic leap to catch Ramon Sealy and dismiss the 20-year-old for a duck off the bowling of Dharmichand Mulewa while Mulewa promptly clean-bowled Pearson Best three balls later.

Singapore’s in-form wicketkeeper-batsman, Suryawanshi, then stumped Ryan Bovell off the bowling of Mulewa to have Cayman Islands reeling at 6-58. A cameo by Conroy Wright with the bat saw the 26-year-old bowler smash five sixes to finish the game 46 not out, but Wright’s efforts were not enough and ultimately the side ran out of overs in chasing the hefty target of 203 and Singapore won its first game of Pepsi ICC WCL Div. 5.

Singapore coach Trevor Chappell said: “I’m pleased with how we performed today, we showed some good batting early on and good running between the wickets which was positive from us.

“Bowling wise was mostly good, there was some good hitting by Wright towards the end but the game was pretty much in our control by that point. We just perhaps threw the ball around a bit too much in the field risking overthrows which meant we missed the odd chance that could have made a difference.”

Meanwhile, Cayman Islands coach Theo Cuffy took some positives from the side’s first loss of the tournament commenting: “I think we still need to feel ourselves with the wickets here and the way it plays, because we found it a little difficult with the bounce while both batting and bowling. I think we need to get used to it pretty quickly if we’re going to stand any chance of doing well in this event.

“Our bowlers need to understand that the pitches here are not going to be as helpful as back in Cayman Islands but nevertheless I felt we came back into the game and our batting did well despite the big Duckworth-Lewis target. I think we did well today, we need to regroup and come back stronger tomorrow.”

Cayman Islands will next face Malaysia, a side Cuffy admits will provide a tough challenge. “We need to win the next four games and our intention is to play Singapore in the final. We know nothing about Malaysia, we will play it by the ear and we’re going to stick to our game plan and hopefully it works out for us,” said the Trinidadian.

Scores in brief (Day One)

Kallang (Reduced to 32 overs due to rain interruption)
Singapore 141-3, 34 overs (Suryawanshi 42, Param 28 not out)
Cayman Islands 122-8, 32 overs (Wright 46 not out; Mulewa 3-12, Amjad 2-19)
Singapore won by 80 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method)
Man of the Match: Chetan Suryawanshi (Singapore)

Singapore Cricket Club
Bahrain 49 all out, 13.5 overs (Nussbaumer 5-19, Hooper 3-1)
Guernsey 50-1, 12.5 overs (Smit 13, Kneller 14 not out, Frith 8 not out)
Guernsey won by nine wickets
Man of the Match:  Jamie Nussbaumer (Guernsey)

Indian Association (Reduced to 29 overs due to rain delay)
Malaysia 210 all out, 44.5 overs (Shafiq 61, Ralalage 31; M Paterlini 3-50)
Argentina 114-7, 29 overs (Ferguson 27, M Paterlini 26 not out; Ghulam 2-24)
Malaysia won by 47 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method)
Man of the Match: Shafiq Sharif (Malaysia)

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