Testing Times for Nerves & Stomachs as Canada v Ireland Approaches

Canada’s Target: 3 Wins from 3 Matches
Toronto (22 October 2019) : Let’s bypass some of my thoughts earlier today on the theme of limited changing and washroom facilities at several cricket grounds in the “heartland of Canadian cricket in the Greater Toronto Area” that came to mind when watching an ICC Video clip about Nigerian batsman Sulaimon Runsewe, who raced off the field for a bathroom break during Monday evening’s game between Canada and Nigeria in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).
My early morning thoughts can be tossed into the weeds, bushes and trees as memories returned, a few hours later of Canada beating Ireland in February 2007 in Nairobi, Kenya during the inaugural World Cricket League (WCL) Division 1.
It was a new tournament featuring the top six ICC Associate countries with the bonus of the top two teams qualifying for the ICC T20 World Cup, in addition to playing for the 50-over WCL Division 1 championship.
The game saw Canada, batting second, beat Ireland’s total of 308/7 (50 overs) thanks to 42 runs from opening bat Abdul Samad, 122 from number 3 bat Ashish Bagai, 57 by captain John Davison and 60* by Qaiser Ali who hit the winning boundary with 2 balls to spare. Canada 312/4 from 49.4 overs beat Ireland by 6 wickets in February 2007. Looking ahead to 23 October 2019 a win for Canada against would be big and confidence building, whatever the margin of victory. .
Canada’s Two wins from Two Matches
Sunday (Oct 20): Canada 176/5 (20 overs; Nitish Kumar 83, Navneet Dhaliwal 36, Nicholas Kirton 21) beat Jersey 123 (17 overs; Jeremy Gordon 3/14, Dilon Heyliger 3/20) by 53 runs
Monday (Oct 21): Canada 159/7 (20 overs; Nitish Kumar 57*, Hamza Tariq 33) beat Nigeria 109/8
Wednesday, 23 October 2019: Canada v Ireland in T20 Group B Tussle
Five of the seven countries in Group B have registered two wins. Four of those five play on Wednesday (23 October) headed by the meeting of Canada and Ireland in Abu Dhabi (6.10am EST start). Canada leads Group B on Net Run Rate (Canada NRR + 2.575) thanks to 2 wins from 2 matches. Ireland, now an ICC Full Member Country, is in third place following 2 wins and 1 loss with an NRR of +0.532. It’s a big game where a Canadian win would raise Canada to 3 wins from 3 games in a situation where the top four in the group have a chance of winning one of six places in next year’s T20 World Cup in Australia. Three wins from three games would move Canada closer to cementing a top three place in Group B.
The top team in each Group automatically qualifies for next year’s T20 World Cup while second

or third place bring the chance to lose a playoff game but still have a shot at 5th and 6th places.
Jersey, ranked one place behind Canada in the pre-tournament ICC Mens T20I rankings beat the UAE on Tuesday to move into second place in Group B with a record of 2 wins and 1 loss (NRR +0.85). Jersey is due to play Hong Kong (Won 0, Lost 3, NRR -1.397) on Wednesday while fifth placed Oman (Won 2, Lost 1, NRR -0.049) plays Nigeria (Won 0, Lost 2).
The pressure is certainly building as the tournament progresses. The standings will keep changing with each game or pair of games thanks to different starting times in these T20 matches. But keeping to a winning path will be Canada’s goal. A goal and ambition where confidence will increase with each success, but the need to re-focus, re-concentrate before each game is also important. The immediate focus for Canada is the match against Ireland on Wednesday, not wandering off with thoughts about beating Hong Kong on Thursday. Thursday in the UAE is an eternity away from Canada v Ireland on Wednesday in the meat and heat of the day in Abu Dhabi.
Hopefully Canada will be relatively relaxed but focused and confident going into this crucial match against Ireland. A Canadian win would surely be a major boost on the road back to higher status within the ICC Associates world of cricket, although there remains a long road to the 2023 ODI Cricket World Cup in India for Canada via the new Challenge League Division A. But Canada is usefully placed top on NRR after 4 wins and 1 loss from the first of three Division A tournaments to decide which team will advance to a 50-over World Cup Qualifier Playoff event in 2022.
Hopefully there will be appropriate confidence for the Canadian squad, with few nerves and/or churning stomachs, going into Wednesday’s game against Ireland.
But back in February 2007, soon after the toss and declaration of the teams for Canada v Ireland in Nairobi, I was told that two of Canada’s starting eleven were feeling unwell. Match officials were, apparently asking questions about the possibility of Canada using substitute fielders at the start of play.
Now you do run into issues of different water, different foods and cooking styles, etc on the international cricket circuit. Players may become ill and an Associate country may lack the depth of support personnel on some tours to look after dietary and healthy living needs. My notes from February 2007 may still be on an old computer and there may be a report or two on Canada Cricket Online about the game.
Eoin Morgan scored 115 (106 balls) for Ireland, batting at number 4 and Kevin O’Brien scored 52 (83 balls) in Ireland’s 308/7 from 50 overs. Opening bat Abdul Samad was run out for 42 to end a second wicket stand of 84 with Ashish Bagai after 19.5 overs. John Davison clipped 57 runs before being bowled by John Mooney (Canada 203/3 after 35.5 overs). Ashish Bagai was going well until bowled for 122 runs scored off 132 balls. Canada 260/4 (44.1 overs). Qaiser Ali went on to strike the winning boundary with 2 balls to spare and closed on a personal 60* from 41 balls.

During the course of Canada’s innings there was a drinks break that saw several Ireland players and one of the umpires make a dash for the pavilion. A scenario with some similarities to the sudden rush from the pitch by Nigeria’s Sulaimon Runsewe at 38/2 after 7 overs during Monday’s T20 game against Canada.
Some of Nitish Kumar’s Thoughts after the Nigeria Match
Nitish Kumar scored consecutive fifties with 83 (36 balls) against Jersey and 57* against Nigeria and was named Man-of-the-Match after both games.
Speaking in an ICC Video interview about Canada’s overall batting performance after the game against Nigeria, Nitish said “I’m sure the top order is hungry to get out a few big ones (big scores) and I’m sure it is just around the corner.”
“Today, it’s been a bits and pieces. My innings doesn’t mean much if Hamza (Tariq) doesn’t come in and have a blinder.”
Everyone’s looking for runs and I think its just around the corner.” Eddie Norfolk

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