Congratulations to Cricket Canada for arranging live streaming of the Etihad Festival 20-20 matches. Canada got off to a fine start with a comprehensive win over the USA. A fine innings from Hamza Tariq took Canada to 158/5 off their 20 overs after a shaky start. Canada’s bowlers defended the total superbly, and with the US totally incapable of matching the run rate required the match was all but won after 15 overs. Canada won by an impressive 72 runs.
Earlier Afghanistan beat Trinidad and Tobago by 35 runs in the first match.

Canada batted first, and Gunasekera got off to an exciting start with a four swung through the leg side, but was dropped – an easy catch- in the slips next ball. He was dropped again off the first ball of the next over- a hard caught and bowled chance. A third chance was taken however as he hit a hard drive straight to mid-off; 12/1 in the second over. Gordon was run out by a fine bit of fielding when he wandered out of his crease without a serious hope of a run. The USA opted for spin, a tactic that proved successful. Hansra played a poor shot, skiing an easy catch to mid-off, and Canada were 21/3 off 3.4 overs. Patel played with some restraint but took two nice boundaries from the sixth over. Cheema moved into high gear with two sixes from consecutive balls off the off-spin of Haidur, the first onto the pavilion roof and the second to square leg. Cheema (20 from 15 balls), trying for another six, smashed a wide half volley straight to the fielder on the cover boundary. After 10 overs Canada were 63/4. Patel (39 off 30 balls) fell to a superb catch at point from a sliced drive. Hamza Tariq took a six and a four from the 14th over. He and Limbada played superbly, taking 28 from the 18th and 19th overs and culminating with 32 from the final over. Tariq hit sixes sixes and made 62 from just 27 balls, and Limbada contributed a useful 22.
Khurram Chowan and Baidwan bowled tightly to restrict the US to 3 from the first two overs. Chohan made the first breakthrough, having Patel caught trying to pull, and Baidwan dismissed Alfred in similar circumstances to reduce the US to 8/2. Tight bowling well supported by good fielding put the pressure on the Americans, and this paid off with a third wicket, Cheema striking leaving the US 32/3 from 9 overs. Cheema had more success in his next over, bowling Mills for a duck. With the required run rate at above 14/over, the US were in deep trouble. Desai made good use of a wicket that favored spin, and bowled his four overs for fourteen runs and two wickets. The US made no attempt to win and batted out their overs finishing on 86/7.
Live streaming details – Afghanistan – T+T card – Canada – USA card