Canada lost to Singapore by two runs, bowling them out for 166, but falling just short, leaving their hopes of promotion to Division 2 dependent on net run rate calculations. They finished tied with Singapore with a 3-2 record, but good results in previous games kept them in second place overall, and they will play Oman in the Division 3 final tomorrow, with promotion assured. Bhavindu Adhihetty, getting his first bowl of the tournament, took 3/10, and five other bowlers chipped in with wickets as they bowled out Singapore for 166. Rizwan Cheema top-scored with a rapid 42, but he was out with 8 runs required, but the last three wickets fell for 5 runs.
Canada won the toss and put Singapore in. Canada’s opening bowlers have been successful in taking early wickets, and today was no exception as Pervez and Dhinda had Singapore three down after seven overs with only 23 on the board. Suryawanshi (38) and Paraam rebuilt with a 71 run partnership before Saad Bin Zafar had Suryawanshi caught at slip and Dutta had the new batsman stumped in the next over- 85/5 from 19 overs. Once again though quick wickets were followed by a substantial partnership, this time 59 runs, eventually broken by Rizwan Cheema, and Adhihetty, getting his first bowl of the tournament, dismissed Paraam (58) in the next over – 148/7 after 32 overs. Singapore this time were unable to recover as Adhihetty took two more quick wickets, then Saad Bin Zafar finished off the innings. Singapore were all out for 166 from 36.4 overs. Adhihetty took 3/10, with five other bowlers sharing the other wickets.
Canada’s openers had put together some good partnerships in the tournament but this time Adhihetty was bowled for a duck in the first over. Kumar went on the attack- 13 from 9 balls but then was caught behind, leaving Canada at 15/2. Pathirana was the third wicket to fall, leg before for 13, and Canada were in some trouble at 29/3. Dhaliwal and Dutta stopped the rot, and the fifty came up after 14 overs. The lunch break was taken after 16 overs, with Canada 60/3. Dutta made 22 of a 45-run partnership before being bowled – 74/4. Dhaliwal made 37, his best score of the tournament but fell in the 25th over- 88/5. Two boundaries from Rizwan Cheema brought up the hundred. Jimmy Hansra’s poor tournament continued with 5 from 19 balls, leaving Canada with 65 runs required and only four wickets remaining. Cheema and Hamza Tariq went on the attack, both hitting sixes then taking two boundaries apiece to hit 17 off an over. They put on 45 runs in 5.3 overs before Hamza Tariq was caught and bowled for 18. Rizwan Cheema and Saad Bin Zafar took Canada to the brink of victory before the disasterous finish- Cheema caught, Saad Bin Zara caught and Pervez run out going for a second run. Again seven batsmen got a start but couldn’t play a major innings and this time the lower order could not save the game.
CricInfo Scorecard
Other matches:
Oman made the highest total of the tournament – 293/6, led by a stunning 30 ball 77 from Naseem Khushi who hit four sixes from the final over of the innings – they bowled out Malaysia for a comfortable win and a first place position.
USA avoided relegation defending a total of 145 against Uganda, who will heading for Division 3.