Cricket: World Cup spots on line at Bay Oval games

Henry Osinde of the Canadian cricket team bowls during a net session at Blake Park. Photo / Joel Ford

Many a moon has come and gone since international cricket was contested in the Bay of Plenty, but all that is about to change.

The top two seeds in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014 will be on show at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval over the next two days in warm-up fixtures. United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Netherlands earned that distinction after finishing third and fourth respectively behind Ireland and Afghanistan in the Pepsi World Cricket League Championship 2011-13 (WCLC).

Four matches will be contested on two pitches in as many days in a bid to play at the world cup, in New Zealand and Australia in 2015.

UAE will meet Uganda at Bay Oval today, while the Netherlands test themselves against Canada on Bay Oval 2.

Tomorrow will see UAE play the Netherlands and Canada clash with Uganda. Admission to all matches is free.

Hosted by New Zealand Cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2014 will be played at seven venues around the country from January 13 to February 1.

Featuring an experienced side, the UAE will bank on Shaiman Anwar, who topped the batting averages at the WCL Championship with 625 runs at an average of 52.08.

UAE captain Khurram Khan is a strike bowler who took the most wickets for his country (19 at average of just 14.36) at the WCLC.

The Netherlands are vastly experienced, having previously played in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 1996, 2003, 2007 and 2011.

Dutch captain Peter Borren, who also represented New Zealand at the ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup 2002, is a batsman to watch.

Pace bowler Mudassar Bukhari was the joint second-highest wicket taker in the WCLC with 21 wickets.