ICC Intercontinental Cup 2004

Scotland romp inaugural tournament

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Just as the ICC Trophy, launched in 1979, was aimed at giving Associates a leg up onto the one-day stage, the Intercontinental Cup, which made its debut in 2004, was intended to give the leading Associates first-class exposure to the longer form of the game.

The first round of the tournament was divided into four three-country regional groups, with the winners of each group going through to the finals held in Sharjah.

The toughest group by far was that featuring Scotland, Ireland and Holland - probably three of the strongest five teams in the competition - and Scotland, whose exposure to regular top-class cricket in the English National League showed - went through courtesy of their defeat of Ireland, who had already beaten Holland.

In the Amercias group, the first game effectively decided the outcome, and Canada beat USA in a low-scoring match on a poor wicket at Fort Lauderdale. USA went on to defeat Bermuda, and Canada came within one wicket of doing so but qualified nevertheless.

In Africa, Uganda sprung a major surprise when they defeated the fancied Namibians by five wickets, but they in turn suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Kenya, leaving the Kenyans effectively assured of a place in the finals. But on the eve of the match against Namibia, Kenya's leading players went on strike in a long-running dispute with their board. Despite this, a makeshift side came close to beating the Namibians, reaching 259 for 3 in pursuit of a target of 302. Ravi Shah played one of the innings of the tournament, smashing 187 not out, as Kenya went through.

In Asia, the match between Nepal and USA opened the tournament and UAE's Pakistan-born Ali Asad made the headlines by taking 9 for 74 in Nepal's first innings. The match was, nevertheless, drawn. Although Nepal then thrashed Malaysia, they were pipped as UAE gained more bonus points in their victory over the same opponents.

In the semi-finals, both held in the UAE, Kenya's weakened side were no match for Scotland who bowled them out for 95 and then set a nominal target of 607 in a day to win. Kenya held on for the draw but Scotland progressed on first innings. In the other match, Canada also took first-innings honours, thanks to Zubin Surkari's 111, and then had UAE nine wickets down in pursuit of 337.

The final was unexpectedly one-sided as Canada were bowled out for 110 and 95 and lost by an innings to Scotland, who only managed 287 for 8 and were indebted to Gavin Hamilton's 115.