Bahamas crush luckless Panama by CricketArchive

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Scorecard:	Bahamas v Panama
Event:	ICC World Cricket League Americas Region Division Two 2006

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DateLine: 19th April 2006

 

The Bahamas sent a clear warning to Division 2 rivals and host nation Argentina with a 9 wicket mauling of Panama at Corimayo. After Panama were dismissed for 134, the Bahamas simply tore into the Panamanian bowling to race to victory in only 16 overs for the loss of just the one wicket.

 

Yet earlier in the day, after being put in to bat, it looked very likely that Panama were going to set the Bahamas a challenging total, at one point being handily placed at 122 for 4 in the 32nd over. Captain and opening bat, Soyeb Chohan (28), continued his solid form, with Tariq Daya (23) and Irfan Tarajiya (29) both making good contributions.

 

What followed was a batting collapse, inspired largely by the left-arm spin of Narendra Ekanayake (6 for 12 in 6 overs), later unsurprisingly named Man of the Match, and Panama lost their remaining 6 wickets for the addition of only 12 runs to be all out for 134 in 38,1 overs. Venris Bennett weighed in with 2 for 30, and wicket-keeper Greg Taylor Jnr again had a fine day behind the stumps, snaring four catches and a stumping.

 

At lunch, the Bahamas were very comfortably placed at 68 for 1 after 10 overs, but some explosive batting at the resumption, with Mario Ford and Greg Taylor Jnr in tandem, saw the add 69 runs in just 6 overs to see the Bahamas to a winning total of 137 for 1 in 16 overs. Ford ended with 68 not out, including 12 fours and 2 sixes, off only 28 balls, with Taylor also undefeated on 34. With the Panamanian bowlers having being put to the sword, only Irfan Tarajiya with 1 for 38 in 6 came away relatively unscathed.

 

The Bahamas win, and the manner in which they achieved it, means that they will be looking for that sought after promotion place on Saturday against Argentina, regardless of what happens tomorrow while they enjoy a bye. Their net run rate is also well out of range of the other challengers. Tomorrow Argentina still have to overcome a buoyant Suriname, after their win over Belize, but it looks likely that the Argentina vs Bahamas showdown will be a winner takes all affair.