Canada chasing a target of 179 after a strong bowling performance fewll 23 runs short, and the USA took the Auty Cup series 2-1- the last time the USA held the trophy was in 1991.
The USA won the toss and somewhat surprisingly chose to bat first in the deciding match of the Auty Cup – the first two matches were won by the team batting second. Mark Montford replaced Dillon Heyliger in the Canadian team. Saad Bin Zafar was chosen to bowl the second over, and the decision to bowl spin early was immediately rewarded with two wickets in consecutive balls, dismissing both openers to catches in the deep- 5/2 after 2. USa advanced to 35 before Mark Montford made another breakthrough, bowling Timbala and then trapping captain Khaleel leg before- 42-4. Shahid Ahmadzai took the next wicket, then Saad Bin Zafar took his third- USA 73/6 in the 27th over. A 69 run partnership of Patels (Mrunal and Timil) took USA to 142 before Shahid Ahmadzai had Munral Patel caught for 31. Cecil Pervez returned to the attack and polished off the innings with 3 wickets – USA were bowled out for 178 in 48.3 overs.
Canada had an early set back when captain Nitish Kumar was bowled for 6 – a poor series for him with the bat by his standards with scores of 9, 37 and 6. Any thoughts of an easy win for Canada dissipated when yesterday’s man of the match Wijeyeratne was caught behind – 27/2. Canada’s middle order again was unimpressive as wickets continued to fall – Limabada contributed 24, Montford 19, and Pathirana 6 as Canada fell to 83/5 at the halfway mark. The tail fought hard, with numbers 7-10 all reaching double figures but no-one played the significant innings required, and Canada fell short.

Scorecard