After 32 matches in four days the World Twenty20 Qualifying Tournament takes a well earned rest today with the group matches having reached the half way point and with just two teams having 100% records. Favourites Afghanistan head Group A with Canada and Netherlands occupying second and third places with three wins each. At the foot of the table are Bermuda who have yet to gain a point.
Top of group B are Namibia who beat Ireland narrowly in their opening match match. Ireland have recovered from this setback to win their other three games but not without a very narrow escape against Italy on Thursday. Scotland are level with Ireland on six points and their clash tomorrow could decide which of them qualify for the qualifier/eliminator stage at the end of the week. Italy, Uganda and Kenya all have four points in this group with the pointless USA and Oman bringing up the rear.
The pivotal game in group A tomorrow is between Afghanistan and Canada with victory for the former making it very likely they will reach the qualifier/eliminators. The format for determining which two teams will go forward to compete in the tournament in Sri Lanka later in the year is less than straight forward but full details are available on the usual websites. Complicated the arrangements may be but like the group matches they are far from drawn out and by next Saturday all will be done and dusted.
My interest in this tournament has not transmitted itself to fellow cricket entusiasts in my local pub and perhaps its significance will not be fully apparent until England come up against 'qualifier two' on September 21st.Title holders against qualifier: banana skin or what?
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