Dhanuka Pathirana – man of the match
Canada against USA is always a classic encounter, and the oldest rivalry in international cricket. Their meeting in Kampala, however, had particular significance for both teams as they strive for promotion to Division 2 of the World Cricket League. Canada came out on top with a one sided 96 run win, leaving Canada in excellent position for promotion, and the USA struggling to avoid relegation.
Canada, put in to bat, made 256/8, led by 87 from man of the match Dhanuka Pathirana, and 67 from Adhihetty, well supported by Nikhil Dutta (31) and Nitish Kumar (30). Kumar and Adhihetty had an opening partnership of 74, and after Canada had gone from 142/2 to 157/5, Pathirana and Dutta put on 58. Rizwan Cheema destroyed the American middle order with three wickets in eight balls, and was well supported by Saad Bin Zafar (2/29 from 10 overs) and Dhindsa also with two wickets.
With one match to play (against Singapore), Canada is tied with Oman with three wins and a loss, followed by Uganda and Singapore both with two wins and two losses. Even with a final match loss, the worst Canada can finish is in a tie for second place, with net run rate the determining factor. Canada’s current net run rate is +1.036, with potential rivals for second place Uganda and Singapore on -0.206 and -0.544 respectively, so only a big loss for Canada and huge wins for Uganda or Singapore could result in Canada falling below 2nd. They will hope to avoid any calculations with a win against Singapore on Monday.
USA won the toss and put Canada in. Canada brought back Jimmy Hansra at the expense of Junaid Siddiqui. Canada’s youthful opening pair again got them off to a good start, putting on 74 in 15 overs before Nitish Kumar was caught at point off slow left armer Nosthush Kenjige for 30. Kenjige bowled Dhaliwal for 3, and Canada were 78/2. Bhavinder Adhihetty advanced to an accomplished half-century, from 69 balls including six boundaries, and at the halfway point Canada were 94/2. Adhihetty and Pathirana put on 74 before Adhihetty was caught behind for 67 (93 balls). Jimmy Hansra has failed to find form in the tournament but this time reached double figures before Patel had him lofting a catch to mid wicket. Patel struck a crucial blow, bowling Rizwan Cheema second ball for a duck, and once again Canada’s middle order were failing to build on a good start – 142/2 had quickly become 157/5. Pathirana, joined by Nikhil Dutta, completed a 73 ball half century. They put on 58, and Pathirana made 87 from 94 balls before he was leg before. Hamza Tariq came and went but Dutta (31*) and Dhindsa (17) took the total to 256/8 from the fifty overs.
Dhindsa bowled USA captain Steve Taylor from the third ball of the USA innings, then Dodson attempted a short single to Jimmy Hansra at mid-off and a direct hit saw him back in the pavilion- 7/2 in the 2nd over. After the disastrous start, the USA consolidated with a 54 run partnership between Alexander and Khaleel. Cheema had failed with the bat but again showed his ability to change the course of a match with three wickets in 8 balls, having Alexander leg before, then Patel caught, and then winning another lbw decision against Stanford – 61/5 after 17 overs. Khaleel had been battling an injury but made 37 before Kumar had him caught, and with half the overs gone, the Americans were 97/6. The seventh wicket fell on 124, when Saad Bin Zafar had Patel caught. Timroy Allen made a rapid 24 before he was bowled by Dhindsa, then Saad Bin Zafar took his second wicket to leave the US nine down. Hutchinson and Kenjige resisted for 12 overs before Dutta took the fibal wicket, all out 160 and a 96 run win for Canada.
CricInfo scorecard – note that CricInfo’s USA correspondent Peter Della Penna is providing detailed updates on Facebook.
In other matches, Oman beat Singapore bowling them out for 100 who helped their net run rate by knocking off the runs in 24 overs. Uganda bowled out Malaysia for 189, and won by 4 wickets.