Canada played USA in the final of the Americas 20-20 competition today. Canada batted first after USA won the toss. A fine bowling performance by the US combined with some questionable shot selection saw Canada all out for 100 from 19.3 overs, Jyoti top-scoring with 43.
Khurram Chohan gave Canada a chance with an early breakthrough, bowling Cush with his 2nd ball, and a fine catch by Cheema at slip removing Massiah with his 7th. However 100 runs was never enough against a decent US batting line up, and Canada lost by 5 wickets. Overall though the Canadians will be delighted with their performance in the Americas tournament, winning the 50 over event, and runners-up in the 20-20.

Over by over description of Canada’s innings follows.

Over 1: Cush opened the bowling to Cheema – off-spin to counter Cheema’s predilection for pace. Cheema managed a single off the second ball, but Patel was unable to find the gaps – 1/0 after 1.
Over 2: Allen- right arm fast-medium bowls to Cheema, on-drives the first ball for a single. Patel tried to cut the second ball, and under-edged onto his stumps- a duck, and brought in Zubin Surkari. A sharp leg bye off the fifth ball brought an appeal for a run-out but Cheema was easily home. 3-1 after 2.
Over 3: Cush to Surkari – again having trouble finding the gaps with good tight bowling. A decent shout for lbw was declined, and only a single from the last ball prevented a maiden – 4/1 after three. A steady start from Canada is starting to look slow.
Over 4: Allen to Surkari- quick single brings Cheema onto strike. Cheema drives hard but right back to Allen, then a wide helps Canada’s cause. A indecisive push at a short ball on off-stump brought the USA the wicket they really wanted- Cheema caught behind for just 3 and Canada in trouble. Jyoti in and upper-cuts his first ball for Canada’s first boundary, then follows with a pull for one. Surkari pulls the last ball over midwicket for four – 15/1 from 4.
Over 5: Cush to Jyoti, pushes into the gap for a single. Surkari aims a loose drive at the next ball and is bowled through the gate, Canada deep in trouble. Dhaniram in and out – an airy drive from his first ball, and caught behind, good bowling from Cush combined with some unwise batting. Hat-trick ball to Hansra defended carefully. single off the last- 17/4 from 5 overs.
Over 6: Allen to Hansra, pushes a single off the 2nd ball, Jyoti does the same from the next, Hansra can’t find the gaps, 19/4 after 6.
Over 7: Cush to finish his spell, starts with a leg-side wide. Jyoti plays an effective agricultural slog, four runs and somewhat ruins Cush’s figures, then defends. He misses with a reverse sweep but still gets an edge for a single, and two dot balls finish an excellent spell from Cush- 4-0-10-2
Over 8: Ghous on with more off-spin; Jyoti with aggressive intent but can’t get him away; reverse sweep not working again, until finally he makes contact with the final ball for a single – 26/4 from 8.
Over 9: Baker with his medium pace; Jyoti mistimes a drive, then drives nicely for a single. Hansra pushes to covers for a quick single. Jyoti drives into the air over extra cover, bounces short of the deep fielder, 2 runs, and picks up the next ball beautifully over deep mid wicket for SIX!
Over 10: Ghous to Hansra, pushes the single, good batting to get Jyoti on strike. Jyoti paddles the next one fine for two, then conventional sweep for a single. Hansra cuts nicely but just a single. Jyoti keeps the strike with a controlled sweep- 42/4 after 10 overs.
Over 11: Baker – Jyoti takes three from his first ball. Hansra rotates the strike well. Jyoti lofts a straight drive, drops between the fielders for two, and a nice cover drive for 2 brings up the 50. A delicate late cut for another single, 51/4 after 11.
Over 12: Ghous to Jyoti, top edges a sweep, 2 runs; a reverse sweep right to fielder, followed by a slog sweep, nicely middled over mid-wicket for SIX. Slog sweep to deep mid-on for just a single, and Hansra can do nothing with the last two balls- 54/4 after 12.
Over 13: Jyoti drives high in the air over cover, and is well caught on the boundary, a good innings of 43. Bhatti in now but Hansra faces and drives past the bowler for a single. Bhatii off the mark right away with single, then a nice cut from Hansra and good running brings them two. 64/5 off thirteen.
Over 14: Massiah with more spin to Bhatti – sweeps for 1, then Hansra plays a lovely drive through cover for four. They scramble a single to long leg, then Bhatti pushes an easy single. Hansra goes to down the wicket, drives back to Massiah who fields well and a direct hit might have run him out. Hansra gets a new bat and a quick drink. The new bat’s a good one as he sweeps over long leg’s head for four, 75/5 off 14.
Over 15: Baker to bowl out; leg bye gets Hansra on strike. Wild swing results in an edged single. Bhatti drives over cover, one bounce and one run. Hansra tries a bizarre and in retrospect ill-advised paddle from a ball wide of the off-stump and provides catching practice for Allen- out for 19. 78/6 off 15.
Over 16: Limbada in now, but Bhatti facing and slogs this straight to deep mid-wicket- the 7th wicket down, and here comes Khurram Chohan. Limbada now facing, struggling with Massiah’s round the wicket approach. A quick single could have been a run-out – just one from the over; 4 overs left and a long way from a defendable total.
Over 17: Ghous bowls to Limbada, he plays an ugly cross-bat wipe that inevitably results in a catch at deep mid-wicket, 8 wickets down, and Rustam Bhatti in. Chohan drives to mid-on for a single, Bhatti sweeps well for 2. A run-out chance missed as the scramble a quick single, 83/8 from 17.
Over 18: Massiah- Bhatti lofts this to the on-side, fails to find mid-wicket. Chohan also manages to miss the fielders with another lofted shot for 2, then plays a nice shot off his toes for a single. Bhatti sweeps for a single, Chohan hides the last ball hard and high, and a nice running catch by Nadkarni leaves Canada at 88/9.
Over 19: Allen returns with some pace, Baidwan to face. High full toss pushed to cover for one. Bhatti pushes a single, Baidwan can’t handle a quick short ball, but avoids getting an edge on it, then drives a full toss to cover. A striaght drive to get off the mark, then Bhatti plays a nice shot all along the ground through mid-wicket for a much needed boundary.
Over 20: Massiah to Baidwan who reverse sweeps well for four through mid-wicket. He tries again from the next ball, and a leg-bye brings up three figures. Bhatti tries a late cut, falls forward and is easily stumped- all out 100.