Canada kept their hopes of qualification for the U19 World Cup alive with a crucial win over USA. Manny Aulakh took six wickets as USA were skittled for 101. A rapid 42 from Pathan led Canada’s reply, as they batted well in challenging conditions to record a 5 wicket win. Canada, USA, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea and Namibia will fight it out for the three remaining qualifying spots with Canada playing Afghanistan on Tuesday in their final match.

Canada won the toss and put USA, with rain in the forecast. They made a great start, thanks to a devasting opening spell by Manny Aulakh. He took five wickets in his first five overs, through a combination of good bowling and some injudicious shots from the Amercian batsmen. The first wicket fell to a good catch in the covers when Shah held on to a skied ball despite colliding with Juvarajan. Aulakh bowled Mirza, fooled Persaud with a slower ball, and dismissed Sedwial and Singh with full length swinging deliveries. Singh chipped in with another wicket and after 11 overs USA were 35/6. Ahmad and Suri’s partnership lasted 13 overs but only added 27 runs, and when Pathan had Ahmad caught behind USA were 64/7 in the 24th over. The 8th wicket fell on 69, but the US tail hung around until Aulakh was brought back into the attack. He took his 6th wicket in the final over of his spell to give him final figures of 10-2-36-6. Hammad Shahid was the US top-scorer and with last man Patel took the US total past 100 after 39 overs. Shah ended the partnership and Canada will chase a target of 102, which may be challenging on a rain-affected pitch. A quick win, however, will help the net run-rate and improve qualification chances in what looks like a very close race for 6th spot.
Pathan decided that attack was the best method to deal with the conditions, hitting a four through mid-on and top edging a six to fine leg in the first over. He hit two more big sixes in the fourth over. A misunderstanding resulted in Shah’s run-out in the last over before lunch, at which point Canada were 27/1 from 5 overs. Pathan continued on his merry way after lunch, smashing two sixes and a four from the seventh over but then Kumar, fresh off his 150 yesterday was stumped for a duck. Pathan’s enterprising innings (42 from 29 balls) came to an end when he flicked a simple catch to square leg and Canada were 48/3. Dutta and Edghill played steadilly and with 22 overs gone Canada need just 25. Dutta made 19 before being caught at square leg. Although Canada would have preferred a quick win to improve net run-rate, the pitch was by no means easy, and the batsmen chose to ensure the win by careful batting. Juvarajan was bowled with the scores level, but Canada ran out winners by 5 wickets with 16 overs to spare.
CricInfo scorecard