CYPRUS V FINLAND

In the fourth and last game of the championship Cyprus took on the only team that they had played before. Winners of the Division 4, Finland had humbled Cyprus in their encounter last year. This was a game that would be a litmus test for Cyprus progress over the last year.

Once again fielding first, this time through loosing the toss, Cyprus opening bowlers set about the Finnish batsmen. For the first time in this championship Chris M and Mike K managed to strike early, dismissing both opening batsmen in the first six overs with only 13 runs scored. A substantial stand between no 3 Saamons and no 4 Shaw dragged back the imitative when Saamons was lbw to Niroshan, the first of a basket of wickets that Niroshan was to take.

The two had been at the crease for an hour and put on 40 runs. Shaw decided to drop anchor, all the more necessary as no 5 bat Kuchey departed two overs later caught by Anil off Niroshan. Two substantial partnerships between Shaw and Qureshi, (10) then Shaw and Ihra (29) took the game into the 44^th over and the score to 127, when in a magic 45^th over, Niroshan took three wickets and turned the game. In the next over Mike K dismissed the belligerent Shaw. He had batted for 45 overs for 31 runs. Finlands tail fell tamely, leaving Cyprus to make a total of 136 to win. Cyprus bowlers had bowled well. Chris M found his pace a direction for the first time in the tournament, Mike K found the precision that characterizes his bowling, conceding only 12 runs in his ten overs, and Niroshan had a special day taking five wickets. Behind the stumps Sawar had taken three catches off the edge of the bar and one stumping off Sampath T medium pace.

With one exception, when Portugal ran away with the score in Cyprus previous game, this has been a low scoring ground, so Finland could well believe that 135 was a defendable total, and more important Cyprus knew with what difficulty they had made runs in their two previous games on this ground.

Sawar went out with Anil in a new opening partnership that it was hoped would deny the opening bowling attack early wickets. It was ten overs before the first wicket fell, Sawar for 7 with the score on 24. Sanjeewa came in no 3 and fell to Walker after 15 minutes for 4.

Anil still at the crease was in need of a partner. Now joined by Niroshan he found one. In the Malta match the two had batted together for most of the match and the memory of that innings was still intact. The two batted for an hour when Anil (45) was caught off Mollanen just five short of his half century. The score was on 88 for 3, the partnership worth 48 and Cyprus looked to be on course.

Two quick wickets set Cyprus into another spin before a series of mini partnerships settled the inning down again. First Niroshan (24) with Nalaga (13), then Nalaga with his brother Danuka, each adding a ten runs to the score. The last partnership between Muhammad and Sunil brought the game home for Cyprus in the 47^th over.

Like a few games before it in this championship this had been a game that could have tipped either way. Cyprus held their nerve to take their second victory of the championships, beating Finland by two wickets.

Finland batting C.Shaw 1, Moilunen 2, Saamons 31, M Shaw 31, Kuchey 4, Qureshi 10, Ilva 29, Armitage 0, Walker 0, Knight 3*, Mohibullah 3

Cyprus bowling Mike K 12-2, Chris M 34-1, Niroshan 24-5, Sanjeewa 26-1, Anil 23-0, Sunil 11-0, Sampath T 3-1.

Cyprus batting Sawar 7, Anil 45, Sanjeewa 4, Niroshan 24, Mike K 4, Sampath T 6, Nalaga 13, Danuka 5, Muhammad 6*, Sunil 1*.

Finland bowling Armitage 16-0, Walker 21-2, Qureshi 26-0, Knight 6-1, Ilva 10-1, Moilanen 27-3, Kuchey 23-1.