Canada takes giant step to 2007 World Cup
By Blarnee Stoned
Exclusive to CanadaCricketOnline
BELFAST: The back of a Belfast pub, fingering a pint of the local brew, may be as appropriate a place as any to celebrate Canada Day, especially after Canada's cricket team fashioned a nail biting two-run win over co-favourities Namibia on the opening day of the ICC Trophy here at Woodvale. Racing in from the midwicket boundary veteran allrounder George Codrington pulled off a stunning two-handed tumbling catch to seal the victory after Namibia had met the challenge of Canada's surprising 284 all out and their last pair needed only three runs off nine balls.
Canada's formidable total was due to a typically swashbuckling 88-ball century by skipper John Davidson (125) in tandem with Ian Bilcliff (90) who produced an innings of sheer class after Desmond Chumney and Zubin Surkari had gone cheaply. After both departed Canadian hopes of reaching 300 on a flat pitch and fast outfield petered out as only lusty hitting by Sunil Dhaniram and Codrington's cheeky last wicket stand with Kevin Sandher interrupted a steady procession of the middle order batsmen.
When Namibia batted, opening bowlers Don Maxwell and Sanjay Thuraisingham forced them to struggle for runs. Sunil Dhaniram and Codrington bowled tightly and at one point the Namibian asking rate had climbed to nine runs an over. But they later feasted on Davison's overflighted offbreaks from around the wicket as the Canadian skipper went for 64 runs off nine overs.
As the tempo of the Namibian innings increased Sandher was called upon to bowl at the death after Thuraisingham was roughly treated in his second spell. While Sandher picked up wickets steadily the game looked at one point as if it might have to be called for lack of replacement balls as the Namibian lower order tucked into the Canadian bowlers, repeatedly hitting them out of the park. Then with a comfortable victory in the sights of Namibia's last pair Sandher's full toss was too inviting to resist. Codrington kept his eye on the ball and held on to it even after falling heavily.
Tomorrow Canada take on favourites Scotland. But today's win could well make the difference between qualifying for the World Cup and serious ICC funding.
(CanadaCricketOnline anticipates receiving further reports from our special correspondent in Ireland).