Yesterday’s winners, Canada and Afghanistan, took on each other in today’s first match, with T+T playing the USA in the second. Remember to check out Cricket Canada’s live video feed if you can’t get to the ground.
In the first game, Canada finally managed a win against Afghanistan, although it required some heroics from Hamza Tariq to do it. Afghanistan were restricted to 140 thanks to some excellent bowling from Cheema, but needed Hamza Tariq to guide Canada to the win, helping to take 25 from the last two overs and hitting the winning runs from the last ball.
Canada included Wadia in the XI, and Afghanistan chose to bat after winning the toss. Baidwan opened the bowling, and bowled Shabit Noori for a duck in his first over. Hansra varied his tactics by asking Desai to bowl at the other end with his spin – he conceded four from his first over but fifteen from his second as Afghanistan raced to 40/ 1 from five overs. Cheema replaced him and had Karim Sadiq top-edge a catch to the keeper. Cheema took a second wicket in his next over, a catch to mid-wicket, and conceded just a single as the scoring rate slowed. At the halfway mark, the score was 66/3. Cheema bowled four overs for 13 runs and two wickets. Tyson Gordon was asked to bowl and dismissed Shahzad in his first over. The dangerous Mohammad Nabi went to a catch at long off from Chohan for 29. Gulbodin Naib contributed 27 from 11 balls with three sixes, but Patel took three wickets in the last over (figures 1-0-2-3!), combined with a run out as Afghanistan totaled 140/9 from their twenty overs.
Wadia and Patel opened the Canadian innings and Patel took two nice boundaries from the second over. Wadia went for a 9-ball duck, bringing in Gunasekera. Patel made 33 from 29 balls before he was bowled going for a big hit, and after 10 overs Canada were 52/2. Gunasekera was struggling and in a desperate attempt to raise the run rate was easily stumped after scoring 15 from 22 balls. Cheema defended five balls, then launched a big off drive into the parking lot. Another six off the next ball went just over mid-wicket’s head. He made it three in a row with a straight drive; 21 from the over made a significant difference to the required run rate. Hansra tried to paddle sweep Mohammad Nabi but only succeeded in giving Nabi his third wicket when Samiullah Shenwari took an excellent catch. Cheema was caught at long off and Canada were 77/5, needing 64 from 35 balls. This brought together yesterday’s batting heroes, Limbada and Hamza Tariq. Tariq was back in his stride with a slog-swept six, as Canada took 13 runs off the 16th over. Hamid Hassan proved difficult to get away but an edged boundary took Canada to 101/5, needing 40 from 18 balls. Another edged boundary left 25 from two overs, with Hamid Hassan to bowl. Limbada dispatched his first ball, a full toss, for six over long on, but was bowled by his second- he made made 24 from 91 balls. Tyson Gordon managed a well placed edge for a boundary off his first ball then a single put Tariq on strike. An attempted yorker turned into a half volley and was put into the crowd at long on. A leg-bye off the last ball left Canada with just 7 to win off the last over, with Mohammad Nabi to bowl. A misfield gave two off the first ball, then Tariq smashed a straight drive that the bowler did well to parry – technically a chance. Gordon scrambled a single, then Tariq slogged to deep mid-wicket to tie the scores. He was unable to score from the 5th ball, but hit the final ball to mid wicket to secure the win. Hamza Tariq made 33 from just 18 balls.
The second match was one side with Trinidad and Tobago beating the USA by 111 runs.
Canada- Afghanistan on CricInfo