Malaysia and Singapore both won promotion from Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 5 (WCL Div. 5) in Singapore. Malaysia, despite losing by two wickets to Bahrain secured promotion by virtue of winning four of its five round-robin fixtures, while Singapore beat Argentina today to take its wins to four in the tournament and secure promotion out of the division.

Meanwhile, Bahrain despite its win over Malaysia and Argentina’s loss to Singapore has meant the two sides have been relegated out of WCL Div. 5. Guernsey’s victory over Cayman Islands today at Kallang has ensured it maintains its place in the tournament, while the Cayman Islands remain in the division by virtue of having a superior run-rate to Bahrain.

Saturday (25) will see the global rankings play-offs between the sides with Singapore playing Malaysia in the final of the tournament at Kallang.

Malaysia took on Bahrain at the Indian Association with the Bahrainis’ coming off victorious in a match that Malaysia had been expected to win as the in-form side of the event.

Having won the toss – the Malaysian batting struggled against Rizwan Baig’s fast bowling, with four of the Malaysians departing at his expense, including key middle-order batsman Suresh Navaratnam and top order stroke-maker Anwar Arudin, the latter having completed his half-century.

Former Malaysian captain Suhan Alagaratnam corner-stoned the innings with 54 runs while Hiran Ralalage made a cameo with the bat scoring 34 however the Malaysians final total of 195 was slightly too low on the smallest of the grounds being used for the event.

In reply, Bahrain looked set for disaster after the team were flailing with five runs on the board and one wicket down before lunch, however Yaser Sadeq’s men had other things in mind.

Led by the evergreen Adil Hanif in the afternoon heat, the 33-year-old made a splendid 65 runs striking five boundaries and two sixes in the process. Rizwan and Shahzad Ahmed assisted on the run-making and despite a late flurry of wickets, the team managed to steer itself to its second win, with two wickets in hand.

Thankfully for the Cayman islands, the side’s run-rate was not superior to them and the side were relegated into Division 6.

Guernsey took on Cayman Islands at Kallang where once again Steve Gordon led the Caymanian batting line up while Guernsey’s bowling unit was led by the off-spin of GH Smit who proved useful for the Channel Islanders when it came to dismissing the Caribbean side for 164 in less than 48 overs.

In reply, Guernsey’s batting line-up was led once again by the in-form Smit, alongside Tim Ravenscroft with the duo knocking 107 runs off the target before Smit was clean bowled by Alessandro Morris. The side lost another three wickets, but stalwart Jeremy Frith ensured the side was steered to victory alongside Ben Ferbrache and secure its placing in Division 5.

Both Guernsey coach Andy Cornford and Cayman Islands coach Theo Cuffy admitted that it was time for reflection and rebuilding with their respective sides.

Cuffy said: “I am happy that we have maintained our position in Division 5, however I did come here with the belief we could have won promotion back to Division 4. Now it is about regrouping as a team and looking to the younger players and seeing how we can develop and improve the game further in the Cayman Islands.

“I think what let us down here was a lack of professionalism by our senior players and the fact a number of our junior players didn’t seem willing to learn the trade. Our players need to go home and look inwardly about what they can do to help cricket and its development on the islands.”

Tomorrow will see Singapore take on Malaysia in the final at Kallang, while Guernsey will once again play Cayman Islands this time at SCC for third/fourth place while Bahrain will play Argentina at the Indian Association.

Scores in brief (Day Five)

Kallang
Cayman Islands 164 all out, 47.5 overs (Gordon 54; Smit 3-27)
Guernsey 167-4, 43.2 overs (Smit 59, Ravenscroft 55, Frith 33 not out; Morris 2-22)
Guernsey won by six wickets
Man of the Match: GH Smit (Guernsey)

Singapore Cricket Club
Singapore 239-8, 50 overs (Chaminda 52. Shinde 73, Janik 33; L Paterlini 2-50)
Argentina 93 all out, 30.5 overs (Shoib 4-14)
Singapore won by 146 runs
Man of the Match: Kshitij Shinde (Singapore)

Indian Association
Malaysia 195 all out, 50 overs (Alagaratnam 54, Arudin 50; Rizwan 4-23)
Bahrain 196-8, 41 overs (Adil Hanif 65, Shahzad 37, Rizwan 24; Fetri 2-21)
Bahrain won by two wickets
Man of the Match: Rizwan Baig (Bahrain)