Cyprus remains in the European cricket 4th division

THE CYPRUS national cricket team failed to qualify for the European 3rd division after beating Luxembourg by 4 wickets and claiming second place in the 4th division championship on Wednesday in Antwerp.

The replay of Tuesday’s abandoned match between Cyprus and Luxembourg turned out to be the best match of the championship as Cyprus pulled off a thrilling victory. In Tuesday’s match Cyprus was in deep trouble at 60 for seven when the rain came to their rescue.

After winning the toss Luxembourg elected to bat first, knowing that this was the only way to gain a better net run rate over Finland, and to win the championship.

Cyprus used eight bowlers in an attempt to contain the Luxembourg batsmen and Luxembourg were all out for 194 in the 38th over, the highest total of the tournament by any side. However, the loss of so many wickets ended any possibility of their overtaking Finland, and the match was definitively played for second place.

When Cyprus was reduced to 46 for three and then to 86 for five and 111 for six, it seemed as if Luxembourg were heading for victory.

But Janaka Pelawattna had other ideas, gradually taking control of the situation. He had excellent support from Dineja Agathocleous as the pair added 84 for the eighth wicket to take their side to victory.

Pelawattna finished with 72 not out off 90 balls with two fours and two sixes, while Agathocleous made 41 not out off just 42 balls with two fours and a six.

The Cyprus national team players were understandably delighted after this inspirational victory and a successful conclusion to their European debut.

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.