ICC Americas Championship
| Administrator | ICC Americas |
|---|---|
| Format | List A |
| First tournament | 2000 |
| Tournament format | League system |
| Number of teams | 17 nations |
| Current champion |
 Canada
|
| Most successful |
Canada (4 titles) |
The ICC Americas Championship is a one-day cricket tournament organised by ICC Americas for non-Test national cricket teams in the Americas affiliated with the International Cricket Council. As well as providing the opportunity for national teams to play international matches against teams of a similar standard, it also provides qualification into the ICC World Cricket League.
There are currently four divisions taking place biannually with promotion and relegation taking place between divisions. In 2010 Division One, for the first time, a Twenty20 tournament took place following the traditional 50 over competition.
The ICC Americas Championship first took place in 2000 between the five associate teams in the region. 2006 saw the championship evolve into a league system with three divisions allowing most of the affiliate nations in the region to participate. This coincided with the introduction of the World Cricket League, an ICC initiative to give all cricket playing nations a chance to qualify for the Cricket World Cup. In 2010, a fourth division was added meaning that all members in the region were able to take part in the league system.
Typically, the team finishing first is promoted and the lowest place team is relegated to the division below where possible. The only occasion this did not happen was in 2008 when Turks and Caicos Islands retained their Division Two spot despite finishing last.
The 2000 tournament was held in Ontario, Canada, at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club and G Ross Lord Park. Then affiliate member the Cayman Islands gained a surprise victory over Argentina, and the tournament itself went down to the final day. Canada and Bermuda were level on six points each going into their final game. Bermuda batted first and were dismissed for 186, with Dennis Archer top scoring with 59, with John Davison and Nicholas Ifill taking three wickets each for the home team. When Canada batted, they lost their first two wickets quickly, but Nicholas Ifill (completing a fine all-round performance with an unbeaten 78) and Joseph Harris (who scored 60) putting on a 122 run partnership, before Ifill and Paul Prashad steered them home for the seven wicket win.
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