National cricket team vice Captain Jimmy Kamande has said the team would bounce back from a lacklustre Performance at the World Cricket League in Netherlands.
The veteran right-arm-off-spin bowler attributed the poor show that saw them lose all their matches to a number of factors including the wickets.
“We took long to adopt to the playing surface of the venue. The wickets were very slow and uneven, and really affected our style of play. Despite the misfortunes, we really don’t have any excuses for the poor result. We have to forget the outing, and start focusing on mending our mistakes as we prepare for next year’s World Cup,” said Kamande.
He said they team would work extra hard in training and polish specific areas as they strive to return to glory, which saw them reach the 2003 World Cup semi-finals.
“There is no time to rest, we have learnt from our mistakes and I can promise we will bounce back. We will host a state team from India from July 19 for a series of One Day International matches and I hope it would be a good practice for us,” said Kamande.
Wooden spoon Canada beat Kenya for the second time in as many days to secure fifth place in the ICC World Cricket League Division One, and left Kenya with the wooden spoon.
Kenya put up a much better fight the second time around, but ultimately succumbed by three-wickets as Canada chased down a target of 191 with just four balls to spare.
Again skipper Ashish Bagai (39) and Zubin Surkari (49) shared a crucial partnership in the chase, putting on 85 for the sixth wicket to change the course of the match after Canada had lost three wickets for seven runs.
Both fell in the final six overs, but Jimmy Hansra and Umar Bhatti held their nerve to steer Canada over the line.
Earlier, it was Canada’s opening bowlers Harvir Baidwan (2-25) and Bhatti (2-48) who laid down the marker, taking two wickets apiece before medium-pacer Rizwan Cheema took 3-39.
Kenya were eventually bowled out for 190 off the last ball of the innings. The result meant they lost all six matches they played in the competition.
Meanwhile, Australia battled hard throughout a shortened morning session yesterday as Pakistan exploited lingering moisture in the pitch and overcast conditions on the opening day of the first test at Lord’s, adds Reuters.
At lunch, Australia were 36 for one with Shane Watson back in the pavilion for four after an hour’s play in which the ball repeatedly beat the bat.
The first test in England between two overseas countries since the 1912 Triangular series started 90 minutes late, after overnight rain left damp patches on the outfield.
Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi, mindful of his inexperienced batting lineup in which Azhar Ali and Umar Amin were making their test debuts, responded to the conditions by asking Australia to bat after winning the toss.
His opening bowlers Mohammad Aamer and Mohammad Asif fully justified his decision with late movement through the air and off the pitch.

CAROL MUTHONDU