November 20, 2013 at 1:55 p.m.
Crucial test for cricketers
Just how good are Bermuda?
We will find out today as the island take on Afghanistan in a key Group B match.
We are four matches into the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier with no one team remaining unbeaten. Bermuda are 2-1 and right in the mix to gain entry into the World Twenty20 Tournament.
The top two teams in Group B will automatically advance while the third and fourth place teams will play off against the third and fourth place teams from Group B for the final two spots.
Bermuda has played three matches — most teams have played four — with victories against Scotland and Denmark and a loss versus Netherlands.
And therein lies the rub.
Scotland (0-4) and Denmark (1-3) are at the bottom of the table while the Netherlands is standing tall at the top at 3-1.
Underdog
Afghanistan, once the underdog darlings of the cricket world, are also 3-1.
The winner will skyrocket from the bottom half of the table to second as the top two teams are playing each other in another momentous match.
Yesterday, Nepal salvaged some momentum as they defeated Papua New Guinea in a top of the table clash.
Nepal defeated PNG by seven wickets to retain second place in Group B and knock PNG into fourth. Nepal skipper Paras Khadka took three for 22 as PNG was restricted to 140 for six, before Binod Bhandari belted one four and six sixes for an unbeaten 51 as Nepal achieved its target with 10 balls and seven wickets to spare.
In the other Group B match, Netherlands recorded its third victory of the tournament when it defeated Denmark by seven wickets with more than nine overs to spare at ICC Academy Oval 2. Ahsan Malik (four for 10) and Stephan Myburgh (54 not out) starred in Netherlands’ victory. As a result, Netherlands move into first position in Group B and PNG drop to fourth.
Bermuda will play Kenya on Thursday before having Friday off. Saturday’s match against Nepal will be live streamed on the ICC website at www.icc-cricket.com
ICC WORLD Twenty20 QUALIFIER
GROUP B
| Team | M | W | L | T | N/R | Net | Points |
| Netherthlands | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +1.50 | 6 |
| Nepal | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.85 | 6 |
| Kenya | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +2.09 | 4 |
| PNG | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | +0.83 | 4 |
| Bermuda | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | +0.28 | 4 |
| Afghanistan | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | -0.80 | 2 |
| Scotland | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | -1.52 | 2 |
| Denmark | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | -3.06 | 0 |
Today’s B Group matches
Afghanistan v Bermuda
Netherlands v Nepal
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