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• Suriname 150-9 lost to Argentina 153-5 by 5 wickets
  Hurlingham, Buenos Aires, 7 April

Argentina set up an interesting final day clash with the the Bahamas to see who wins the ICC Americas WCL Division 2 championship, and gain passage to Division 1 later in the year, after easing past a determined Suriname outfit on day five. The big guns of the tournament reached 153 for 5 to win by 5 wickets, after the promoted Division 3 winners had posted a score of 150 for 9 in their 50 overs.

In saying that, there were indeed moments where it might have all been different, but in the end perhaps the experience and greater class of Argentina told at critical moments. Suriname certainly started well, not showing any signs of nerves in their first-ever clash against an Associate country at official international level. Openers Sanjay Meghoe (20) and Deoraj Sewanan (42, with 6 fours in 68 balls) put on 44 for the first wicket, and indeed Suriname moved to 75 in the 24th over before Argentine pressure started to break through. Bustling seamer Diego Lord took the second Surinamese wicket in his second over, and the introduction of spinners Hernan Pereyra and captain Billy MacDermott changed the course of the innings.

Suriname slid to 93 for 6 by the 31st over, and after that it was a case of lower order grit and determination to bat through the overs and post something meaningful to give their bowlers a chance. Oemraw (21) and Mangal added 47 valuable runs for the 7th wicket, and in the end, Suriname closed their innings after 50 overs on 150 for 9.

For Argentina, Diego Lord (3 for 25) continued his excellent bowling form, while MacDermott returned fine figures of 2 for 14 in 10 overs. Pereyra finished with 2 for 44 in his 10 over spell.

There was drama at the start of the Argentine run-chase, when they were reduced to 10 for 2 after 8 absorbing overs, and a huge upset was certainly on the cards. But South African-born Gary Savage and the calmly experienced Donny Forrester kept out everything Suriname tried whilst keeping the scoreboard ticking over, and when Savage finally departed 99 runs later, it was 109 for 3 after 26 overs, and the game was all but won.

Savage made 56 (79 balls, 6 fours), and was later named man of the match, while Forrester contributed 44 (52 balls, 3 fours & 2 sixes). Although Suriname snapped up another quick wicket, Siri and Irigoyen made sure there was no last-minute drama, and Argentina clinched the game at 153 for 5 after 36,5 overs.

Now they must face-off against the Bahamas in a winner-takes-all clash at Hurlingham, a contest between two contrasting styles, and it promises to be a day of exceptional and absorbing cricket.

• Belize 95 lost to Panama 99-0 by 10 wickets
  Corimayo, Buenos Aires, 7 April

Panama turned in a powerful display to crush Belize by 10 wickets at the Maurice Runnacles Oval at Corimayo, thereby condemning Belize to fifth place in the tournament. Belize will now have to start the next Americas series in Division 3 and attempt to re-qualify for Division 2.

But it really was all Panama’s day. After sending in Belize to bat, the opening pace attack of Irfan Tarajiya (3 for 29) and Zahir Motala (2 for 25) literally destroyed the Belize top-order to leave them in tatters at 38 for 5 after the opening 12 overs. Belize never recovered, and it was only thanks to brief resistance from Howell Gillett and captain Dirk Sutherland, who added 27 for the 9th wicket after coming together at 57 for 8 that allowed them to post a dismal final total of 95 all out in 24,4 overs.

The comprehensive Panamanian victory was nailed down by captain Soyeb Chohan, also man of the match, who made a sparkling 61 not out, including 7 fours and 2 sixes, who was ably supported by Alkesh Patel (25 not out), and Panama passed the target in 18,2 overs without losing a wicket, to finish on 99 for 0, and register a 10 wicket victory.

No doubt Belize will return home very disappointed, not just by the fact that they lost all four of their games, or their relegation to Division 3, but certainly perhaps most of all that they never really at any point in the tournament played anywhere near their full potential.

For Panama, it means their clash against Suriname at Corimayo tomorrow will determine 3rd and 4th place in the table, with both teams having already secured their Division 2 status.

            P   W   L  NR  Pts    NRR
Bahamas     3   3   0   0  12    3.642
Argentina   3   3   0   0  12    1.541
Panama      3   1   2   0   4   -0.831
Suriname    3   1   2   0   4   -0.976
Belize      4   0   4   0   0   -1.719