The Canadian Under 19 squad lost a crucuial match to Papua New Guinea today. Both teams were on three wins, and the loss sees Canada now struggling for a top six position that will send them to the U19 World Cup. The game was dominated by two superb innings, 150 by Nitesh Kumar surpassed by an unbeaten 167 from PNG’s Chris Kent that resulted in a last-over victory.

PNG won the toss and chose to bowl. Canada made a lively start in intermittent rain, with Pathan, after taking 20 balls to advance to 4, smashing 20 runs off the 6th over. He hit his third six before edging a catch to third man, making 31 out of 49. Kumar replaced him, and went on to the attack immediately. There was a brief stoppage for rain but shortly afterwards a boundary from Kumar brought up the hundred from 16 overs. Kumar’s fifty took just 43 balls with five boundaries. Shah and Kumar added 109 before Shah (43) was lbw to Bau. Edghill and Juvarajan fell cheaply but Kumar progressed towards his second century of the tournament. He reached in the grand manner with a big straight six; it took just 97 balls with six fours and two sixes, and brought up the 200 in the 42nd over. It was a one-man show as Kumar reached 150 in the last over (126 balls with seventeen boundaries). Canada were able to post an good total of 261/9.
Aulakh dismissed both openers and after six overs PNG were 13/3. Siaka and Kent stopped the rot with a good partnership of 96. With rain in the air both sides needed to be aware of the Duckworth-Lewis targets as play progressed. A fine catch by Pathan accounted for Bau (28) but Kent kept PNG in the hunt. He reached a superb century from just 81 balls, striking fourteen boundaries. Two more wickets fell, but not the critical one of Kent as the game headed for a tight finish with PNG needing 24 from 18 balls with four wickets left. Kent continued to play beautifully as he equalled, then passed Kumar’s earlier effort. Nine runs off the 48th over left 15 from the last two. Kent hit the first ball of the 49th over for four to square leg, and the second to the cover boundary to take PNG to the brink of victory. They needed five runs from the last over. Tom crashed the fourth ball to the boundary for the win. Kent was unbeaten on 167 from 131 balls, with 21 fours and two sixes.

Cricinfo scorecard