Denmark defeated Argentina by three wickets in a must-win ICC World Cricket League Division 2 match on Friday to qualify for the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2009 along with Oman, United Arab Emirates and Namibia.

David Borchersen, Bobby Chawla and Bashir Shah took two wickets each as Argentina, despite opener Matias Paterlini’s 51, was bowled out for 168 in 48. overs.

Denmark recovered from a shaky start when it slumped to 24-3 before achieving the target in 46.1 overs with three wickets to spare. Captain Frederik Klokker (54) and Mickey Lund (39) added 82 runs for the fourth wicket before Thomas Hansen finished off the job with an unbeaten 36.

In Saturday’s 3rd/4th place play-off match, Denmark will face Namibia who beat Uganda by 27 runs while the UAE will have a second chance against Oman to avenge for its 25-run defeat when the two teams meet in the final at the Wanderers. Uganda and Argentina will play in the 5th/6th place play-off match.

The virtue of qualifying for the semi-finals, Oman, the UAE, Namibia and Denmark earned spots in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier (previously ICC Trophy) to be staged in the UAE in 2009 where they will be joined by Kenya, Ireland, Scotland, Canada, Bermuda and the Netherlands.

Argentina and Uganda were relegated to Division 3 but will have a second chance to qualify for the 2009 qualifier when they play in the ICC World Cricket League Division 3.

In the dress rehearsal for Saturday’s final, Oman overpowered the UAE by 25 runs after Adnan Ilyas’ brilliant 113 propelled Oman to an imposing 298-8 in 50 overs. Ilyas faced 112 balls and hit six fours and five sixes.

In turn, the UAE was dismissed for 273 with three balls to spare despite Amjad Javed’s 71 and Aman Ali’s 64.

In a low-scoring match at the Centre for Cricket Development, Gerrie Snyman took 5-36 to bowl Namibia to a 27-run victory over Uganda.

Namibia suffered a rare batting collapse to be bowled out for 145 in 45.4 overs with new ball partners Daniel Ruyange and Kenneth Kamyuka sharing five wickets between them.

Snyman, who is tournament’s leading run-getter with 517, compensated for his batting failure by taking a five-wicket haul as Uganda was dismissed for 118. Snyman is now the second most successful bowler of the tournament with 10 wickets, four behind UAE’s Arshad Ali who has also scored 300 runs in four matches. 

 Scores in brief:
At the Wanderers ground, Denmark beat Argentina by three wickets
Argentina: 168 in 48.2 overs (Matias Paterlini 51, David Borchersen 2-29, Bobby Chawla 2-32 and Bashir Shah 2-40)
Denmark: 169-7 in 46.1 overs (Frederik Klokker 54, Mickey Lund 39, Thomas Hansen 36 not out, Esteban Nino 3-35, Gary Savage 2-36)

At the United ground, Oman beat the UAE by 25 runs
Oman: 298-8 in 50 overs (Adnan Ilyas 113, Syed Ali 43, Sultan Ahmed 37, Muhammad Ali 33, Saqib Ali 2-51, Aman Ali 2-60)
UAE: 273 in 49.3 overs (Amjad Javed 71, Aman Ali 64, Mohammad Iqbal 37, Abdul Rehman 33, Saqib Ali 32, Hemal Mehta 2-36, Syed Ali 2-44, Hemin Desai 2-73)

At the Centre for Cricket Development, Namibia beat Uganda by 27 runs
Namibia: 145 in 45.4 overs (Daniel Ruyange 3-24, Frank Nsubuga 2-17, Kenneth Kamyuka 2-22)
Uganda: 118 in 34.5 overs (Gerrie Snyman 5-36, Kola Burger 2-29)