Whilst Ireland were surprised by Namibia on the first day of the World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE, other matches went basically as expected, though Scotland's win against Kenya and Uganda's win over the USA were closer than many would have predicted.

Two of the matches in the morning saw the two former full member internationals, Geraint Jones and Michael Di Venuto have contrasting fortunes for Papua New Guinea and Italy against Afghanistan and Oman respectively.

Defending champions Afghanistan won the toss and elected to field first against Papua New Guinea. Their opening bowlers restricted the scoring rate of the PNG batsmen. Geraint Jones didn't have a good start to his PNG career and was out for a duck. As he ended his England career with a pair against Australia, this leaves him with three consecutive ducks in international cricket.

The lower middle PNG order managed to stay in, but their total of 112-6 from 20 overs was unlikely to post much of a challenge to the experienced Afghans, playing on what is the closest they get to home turf. In their reply, Afghanistan lost Noor Ali Zadran in the first over when he injured himself getting back into his ground.

They lost three wickets for five runs in 11 balls early in their innings, but a fine unbeaten innings of 52 from Mohammed Nabi - his first List A Twenty20 fifty - helped them secure a comfortable six wicket win with an over to spare.

At the main Global Cricket Academy ground, Oman's decision to bat first against Italy quickly proved to be a bad decision when their batsmen formed something of a procession back to the dressing room. Middlesex player Gareth Berg picked up two wickets on debut, but it was off-spinner Carl Sandri who did the bulk of the damage, taking four wickets for just nine runs.

Extras, with 19, was the top scorer for Oman, with Sultan Ahmed the only batsmen to make double figures. He managed to stop Oman being bowled out, holding on for a 23 run last wicket partnership with skipper Hemal Mehta as Oman made 89-9 from their 20 overs.

Whilst Italy lost Andy Northcote for a second ball duck, they had no problem reaching their target. Debutant Michael Di Venuto showed no signs of rustiness after two and a half years away from Twenty20 cricket as he top scored with 42, sharing an unbroken 84 partnership for the second wicket with Peter Petricola as Italy won by nine wickets.

The third Group B match of the morning saw Uganda take on the USA at Sharjah. The USA's total of 123-8 was led mostly by captain Sushi Nadkarni's innings of 38 from 33 balls. Roger Mukasa was the pick of Uganda's bowlers with 2-14. Jonathan Sebanja also took two wickets, but went for 32 runs from his three overs.

Uganda's reply initially wasn't looking too good as they had scored just 53-5 when Arthur Kyobe was out in the 12th over. But a quickfire 30 off 19 balls from Frank Nsubuga saw Uganda put on 47 for the sixth wicket in 5 overs, and it was easy going from there as Uganda won by four wickets with four balls to spare.

Winners of the European qualifier Denmark had a reasonably easy win over Bermuda in the afternoon at Sharjah. Despite a 74 run second wicket partnership between Dion Stovell and David Hemp, which ended when Hemp was run out for 36, Bermuda were only able to score 116-7 from their 20 overs, Stovell the only batsmen other than Hemp to reach double figures with 56.

Denmark's reply was built around a partnership of 60 for the third wicket between Freddie Klokker and Rizwan Mahmood, which ended when Klokker was run out for 50 from 41 balls. Mahmood led the team home, finishing on an unbeaten 47 as Denmark won by seven wickets with five balls to spare.

Two Asian sides met in the second match at the secondary global cricket academy ground in Dubai as Nepal took on Hong Kong. Nepal captain Paras Khadka led the way for his team with 68 from 62 balls to take his team to 130-6, with Munir Dar the pick of the Hong Kong bowlers with 3-15.

Hong Kong lost wickets regularly throughout their innings, with only Nizakat Khan getting a start with 32. They did manage to bat out their overs, but were never really in the hunt as they scored 102-9, losing by 28 runs. Chandra Sawad was the pick of the Nepal bowlers with 4-24.

On the main global cricket academy ground in the afternoon was one of two full Twenty20 Internationals on this opening day as Kenya took on Scotland.

Batting first after Gordon Drummond won the toss, Scotland opening pair Richie Berrington and Calum MacLeod put on 41 for the opening wicket before Berrington was out for 28. Jan Stander followed four balls later, but MacLeod then shared in an 83 run partnership for the third wicket with Kyle Coetzer which ended when MacLeod was out for 55 from just 35 balls in the 14th over.

Coetzer went on to score 46, and Scotland reached a formidable 178-7 from their 20 overs. Kenya got a lot closer than many would have expected, and were scoring well ahead of the rate in the first half of the innings. Collins Obuya top scored with 50, but Scotland had already taken control of the innings at that point.

Kenya lost their final wicket from the last ball of the match and had made 164, losing by 14 runs. Gordon Drummond was the pick of the Scottish bowlers with 3-20. It wasn't all bad news for Kenya though, as today's match meant that they have now played enough full Twenty20 Internationals to gain a ranking on the ICC ranking table, entering at twelfth and last place.