Canada pushed a strong Trinidad and Tobago side to the limit in a last-ball loss in their second match of the Carribean 20-20. Canada posted a target of 129, thanks to good innings from Gunasekera and Surkari. An excellent spell from Harvir Baidwan, backed up by some fine fielding was nearly enough, but a scrambled second run from the last ball took Trinidad and Tobago home.
Canada won the toss and batted. They struggled initially against tight T&T bowling making only 18 from first 5 overs and losing Patel lbw for 7. Gunasekera couldn’t find the ropes until the 7th over, when he hit two boundaries – being fortunate in being dropped at 3rd man for the second. Surkari followed suit with two cuts for four in the next over. The fifty came up in the 10th over, and at the halfway mark Canada were 58/1. Both Gunasekera and Surkari struggled with their timing when going for big hits, but were more convincing when playing conventionally. Gunasekera played a clever late cut to reach the boundary in the thirteenth over, and Surkari passed his previous best (26) in 20-20 cricket shortly afterwards. Gunasekera played on going for a big shot for 39, after a partnership of 66, bringing in Cheema. With only 6 overs left, Cheema came out swinging, smashing Rampaul straight for four, then over mid-wicket for a big six. However, he was run-out going for a sharp single from the first ball of the 16th over- Canada 96/3. Surkari swung mightily but failed to make contact with five balls of the 17th over, edging a boundary off the 6th. Surkari top-edged a catch to fine leg in the last over, top-scoring with 42 from 49 balls. Bagai followed from the next ball. Tyson Gordon smashed his first ball well over long-off for 6, and Canada finished on 128/5.
Khurram Chohan got off to a wayward start with 6 wides but settled down to bowl a tight first over. Desai was asked to open the bowling, and was greeted with two cover driven boundaries by Barath. The first ball of his next over was dispatched for a straight six, but Desai responded by beating Barath in the flight and bowling him off his pads. An eventful over was completed with another boundary from Simmons, who was then dropped by Balaji Rao at mid wicket – a sharp but catchable chance. Hansra’s first over proved expensive, Simmons hitting a huge six and an edged four – after five overs T&T were 47/1. Baidwan stemmed the flow of runs with a much needed maiden. Some good bowling by Baidwan and Cheema supported by sharp fielding paid off when Bravo was caught at deep extra off Baidwan. Balaji Rao came on and had Simmons was well caught at long off by Chohan. Almost 10 overs passed without a boundary before Ramdin swept Rao for six. Rao persisted with flighting the ball, and Ramdin, perhaps trying to respond to Bagai’s comments, lofted an easy catch to point, trying to repeat his previous shot – 87/4 after 15 overs. Rao and Hansra had trouble keeping up the pressure, though, both conceding boundaries in the 16th and 17th overs. A fine throw from the deep by Tyson Gordon ran out Mohammed trying for a second run, and Baidwan bowled another good over to finish with 1-12 off four overs. Trinidad and Tobago needed 18 from the last two overs. Cooper scooped a four over fine leg, but 10 were still required as Cheema prepared to bowl the last over. Cooper smashed his second ball over mid-off for four. Three singles took it to 2 from the last ball. Ganga hit a drive to mid-on, and Cooper just beat the throw for the win.
Canada proved they are very competitive at this level, and although no-one looked comfortable with the bat, they very nearly defended an average total with a top-notch performance in the field.