There will be at least two new teams in the next cycle of the CWC Challenge League as Kuwait and Tanzania secured their spots today in Malaysia.
Kuwait were taking on Vanuatu at the Selangor Turf Club and were batting first after captain Mohammed Aslam win the toss. Meet Bhavsar scored his second century in as many games, batting almost throughout the entire innings before finally being dismissed for 132.
Fellow opener Ravija Sandaruwan contributed 55 whilst the captain hit an unbeaten 82 from 53 balls as Kuwait racked up a massive 360-4 from their 50 overs.
The only contribution of note in the Vanuatu reply came from Ronald Tari who scored 48 as Vanuatu were bowled out for 132. Sayed Monib and Yasin Patel both took three wickets for Kuwait.
Over at the Bayuemas Oval, Tanzania batted first against Bermuda after winning the toss, with knocks of 68 from Akhil Anil and 67 from Kassim Nassoro proving key in their total of 239. Ivan Selemani also contributed with 46, whilst Cejay Outerbridge was the pick of the Bermuda bowlers with 4-46.
Terryn Fray dominated the Bermuda reply with 67 but fellow opener Chris Douglas was the only other batter to reach double figures. Laksh Barkania and Kassim Nassoro both took four wickets for the African side, the latter conceding just seven runs in his 7.3 overs.
In the day's other match, over in Bangi, Italy batted first against Bahrain and were bowled out for 218, Wayne Masden top scoring with 41 from 36 balls. Rizwan Butt was the pick of the bowlers with 4-20.
Bahrain's reply was built around a 101 run partnership for the third wicket between Prashant Kurup and Haider Butt, which ended when Kurup was dismissed for 61. Butt fell just short of his century on 99 but had done enough to help his team secure a five wicket win with 16 balls to spare.
Italy and Bahrain have a chance to secure their places in the Challenge League if they can beat Tanzania and Kuwait respectively on Friday. Bermuda and Vanuatu face each other in the other match that day.