Contributed by the Singapore Cricket Association.

Kallang Cricket Grounds, Wednesday, September 2, 2009 - Singapore have earned promotion to Division Five of the World Cricket League after a thumping eight-wicket win over Norway in their Division Six competition today. This victory - the fourth straight win for Singapore - means that the Republic will certainly finish among the top two in the six-nation contest.

Narender Reddy and Buddhika Mendis shone with the bat in the Republic’s win, with Mendis following up with his unbeaten 103 against Bahrain on Tuesday with 90. Reddy however saw the team home with an unbeaten 82 to earn the Man-of-the-Match award.

Norway, electing to bat, made a blistering start, reaching 100 in 15 overs as opener Zaheer Ashiq smashed sixes all over the ground. It was only after he was dismissed in the 19th over with the score on 124-1 that the Republic managed to apply the brakes on the scoring.

Ashiq hammered nine sixes and four fours in his 71-ball innings of 92 before finally holing out to Riaz Hussein at long-on off Dharmichand Mulewa as Norway were dismissed for 229 in 49.1 overs.

Singapore started shakily with Mulewa dismissed early but from 4-1, Mendis and Reddy lifted the score to 147-2 before Mendis was run out when he attempted a dangerous third run after having hit eight fours and two sixes.

Skipper Chetan Suryawanshi contributed 30 not out and featured in an unbroken 83-run stand with Reddy, who hit four fours and a six, as Singapore won in 37.3 overs.

"We once again came out and played like a team,'' said skipper Suryawanshi. "The players never panicked when the Norway opener was scoring freely because we knew he liked playing his shots. Once we got him, we worked harder and ensured that the target was within reach."

Singapore beat Guernsey by seven wickets in their opening match last Saturday. On Monday, the Republic defeated Botswana by 55 runs and on Tuesday, Singapore accounted for Bahrain by seven-wickets.

Brief scores: Singapore 230 for 2 in 37.3 overs (B. Mendis 90, N. Reddy 82 n.o., C. Suryawanshi 30 n.o.) beat Norway 229 all out in 49.1 overs (Z. Ashiq 92, P. Rajah 2-34, R. Altaf 2-14, M. Arora 2-21) by 8 wickets

Singapore will play Malaysia on Friday, September 4 at the Kallang Cricket Grounds in their final match of Division Six.