Group A of the latest World Cricket League Division Six tournament began today in Essex, England, with qualification along the as yet undetermined pathway to the 2019 World Cup apparently on offer for the finalists.

At Kelvedon and Feering Cricket Club, Botswana won the toss and chose to bat first against Suriname. Gaolape Mokowe dominated an opening partnership of 64 with Rashaad Mosweu before he was the first man out for 50. Skipper Karabo Motlanka was the next highest scorer, reaching 39 before he was run out.

The Suriname bowlers then got Botswana on the back foot, at one point taking four wickets in five balls. Muneshwar Patandin was the pick of the bunch with 4-36. Number 11 Russell Withey managed to save Botswana from complete disaster, scoring 31 from 33 balls before he was run out. He helped his team reach 216 after being 165-9.

Suriname lost their top three early on in their reply, and it wasn't until a 67 run partnership for the fourth wicket between Mohindra Boodram and Gavin Singh that they began to take the game away from Botswana.

That partnership ended when Boodram was bowled for 38, but it was followed by a match winning 103 run partnership for the fifth wicket between Singh and Sauid Drepal. The pair scored 64 and 55 not out respectively, leading Suriname to a 5 wicket win with 7.4 overs to spare.

Over at Colchester, Guernsey had a more straightforward win over Fiji, but not before a bit of a scare at the start of their innings. Put into bat by Fijian captain Josefa Rika, openers Matthew Stokes and James Wilkes-Green were both dismissed for ducks by Viliame Manakiwai.

Oliver Newey and Tim Ravenscroft got the innings back on track with a 109 run third wicket partnership that prevented Fiji from capitalising on that fantastic start. Rasvenscroft was the third man out having scored 74, whilst Newey reached an unbeaten 129 as Guernsey scored 287-7 from their 50 overs.

Fiji had little answer to Guernsey's bowlers in reply, with just four of their side reaching double figures. Tim Ravenscroft completed a fine all-round performance, taking 4-21 as Fiji were bowled out for 99, Guernsey winning by 188 runs.

Tomorrow's matches in Group A will see Guernsey take on Botswana and Fiji play Suriname.