Game # 5 Turks & Caicos vs Suriname
Turks and Caicos showed a complete reversal of form today to capture their first win of the tournament. The Turks elected to bat after winning the toss despite two previous innings of under 100 runs. Openers Oliver Williams (42) and Terence Thomas ( (25) got things started in a positive way. Michael Baptiste ( 33) skipper Ralph Doughty (23) and Wayne Williams at the tail with 27 not out rounded off a fine batting display of 232 in their 50 overs. Best bowler for Suriname was their captain Ali Nasrullah with 3/30.
T&C opening bowlers Howard Dickenson and Ira Baptiste quickly got on top of the Suriname top order . As wickets fell quickly the pressure mounted on the middle order to maintain a reasonable run rate. A final stand between the Nasrullah brothers with the skipper Ali Nasrullah on 30 not out brought Suriname to a respectable total of 188 all out in the 55th over.
It was the Turks & Caicos first win in three starts while Suriname is still looking for their first victory despite two reasonable batting displays. Man of the Match was Wayne Williams ( Turks and Caicos)
Game # 6 Belize vs Panama
This was not the same Panama team of the previous day. Gone were the first game jitters and pressure of playing before the home crowd. The top order batsmen quickly applied themselves with a more disciplined style of batting. An early wicket with only 16 runs on the board did not rattle this "new" Panama squad and runs came quickly with the scoreboard at 100 for 2 there was renewed optimism among the players and the crowd.
Captain Soyeb Chohan anchored the innings with a fine 31 to start but unlike the previous day he was supported right down the order by Tariq Daya (37) Irfan Trajia (38) and Zahir Motala (51) . Panama reached 225/9 in their allotted 50 overs and while it was a complete reversal of form no one around the ground could say it was a safe target as Belize had scored over 230 in both of their previous games. Best bowler for Belize was Kevin Flowers with 3/31.
An early wicket when play resumed immediately put Belize on their heels and they never recovered from that position. Dorian Gabb (41) batting at the number 7 position tried to revive the previously unbeaten Belize but when he, like most of the other middle order batsmen, went for an unnecessary aggressive hook shot and provide a simple pop up the game was over.
Panama's skipper Soyeb Chohan with figures of 3/39 was the top bowler but it was Irfan Trajia with 2/29 and 38 runs who won the Man of the Match. The loss was a blow for Belize who had hoped to go into Friday's game against favorites Bahamas as the two unbeaten teams.