On an overcast Sunday at King City, Canada plays Afghanistan in a 50-over match, hoping to improve on the one sided loss in the 4-day game. Canada got off to a fine start, thanks to Gunasekera’s 57 and Patel’s 62. They failed to take advantage, however, being bowled out for 230 in 45 overs. Afghanistan made steady progress, led by Shabir Noori’s 95, towards a rain reduced target of 213. Patel’s three wickets in an over made for a close finish but Afghanistan won by two wickets.

Canada were asked to bat first by Afghanistan. Gunasekera took boundaries from each of the first three overs, then hit a four and a huge six off the fifth as the openers made a positive start. The fifty came up in the sixth over. Gunasekera hit sixes over point and square leg in the next over reaching a thrilling half century from just 28 balls. With Canada scoring at close to 10/ over the Afghans welcomed the rain that brought them off the field with Canada 73/0 from 7.4 overs. When play resumed Gunasekera, perhaps unsettled by the break, was caught at cover for an excellent 57 out of a partnership of 75. Surkari made just 5 and Hansra was unlucky to play on for 17. Patel completed a patient half century and Cheema put in a trademark hard hitting cameo – 36 with three sixes and a couple of fours. Patel was finally caught behind for 62 and the tail failed, Canada being bowled out with 5 overs still remaining for just 230.
Canada needed a strong effort in the field to defend a moderate total and Osinde gave them the start they needed in the first over when after three consecutive wides he bowled a beauty to have Noor ali Zadran caught behind. Osinde pulled up injured in his second over, but Cheema, called in to finish it, had Mohammad Shahzad caught by Hansra – 7/2. Narwoz Mangal (34) was looking dangerous but after hitting a big six, Cheema induced him to loft a catch to the deep – 69/3. Mohammad Nabi and Shabir Noori took the score to 100 after 22 overs. At that point play halted due a massive thunderstorm, with Afghanistan ahead by 6 on Duckworth-Lewis. When they resumed the target was revised to 213 from 43 overs. The Canadian bowling proved ineffective against Nabi and Noori who put on 114 before Nabi (58) was caught behind. Shabir Noori was caught off a no-ball but otherwise was untroubled as he took the Afghans towards victory. The only remaining uncertainty was whether Shabir Noori could reach his century- he got into the nineties with a six but was caught in the deep for 95. They needed just 8 to win at that point, but then Patel took three wickets in an over to give Canada a glimmer of hope. Six to win, and two wickets to fall… An edged four and a couple saw them home. Patel ended with 4-27.

CricInfo scorecard