Canada beat Denmark by 55 runs today in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier for their fourth win in six games. They play Nepal in their final group match with an excellent chance of moving through to the next round of qualifying. A fine innings of 95 from 20-year old Ravindu Gunasekera led Canada to an excellent total of 178/3. Early wickets from Henry Osinde put Denmark on the defensive and they never were close after that, making 123/4 in their 20 overs.
Coach Michael Dighton said after the game:- “An excellent win by the boys today and a real confidence boost ahead of our must win game against Nepal tomorrow. Ruvindu and Hirals’ 109 run partnership was outstanding and what we have been looking for, with both playing good innings. Tyson Gordon hit the last ball for 6 to give us momentum going into our bowling innings. He has to be the fastest runner between wickets in world cricket! Big Henry was the pick of the bowlers and generated considerable pace”
Canada won the toss and chose to bat, with Cheema attempting to change his poor run of form by opening. Gunasekera however led the way, striking three boundaries as Canada advanced to 35/0 from the first five overs. The move up the order allowed Cheema to play against pace rather than spin, and he started the 6th over with a six. He made 16 from 12 balls before being caught, and Canada were 45/1. Patel joined Gunasekera and the two twenty-year olds put together an impressive partnership. Gunasekera passed his half century, and the hundred came up with 7 overs to go. Gunasekera brought up the century partnership with his sixth six, also passing his best score for Canada. He was bowled, falling just short of his personal century, making a splendid 95 from 65 balls, with 12 boundaries. Patel was run out for 43 (32 balls) in the 19th over but Canada’s final total of 178/3 is very competitive.
Denmark got off to a slow start against Osinde and the leg spin of Junaid Siddiqui, taking four runs off the first two overs. Osinde made the early breakthrough, having Kamran Mahmood caught behind with the score on 5 and followed this up with a second strike to leave the Danes 25/2 after 5 overs. Rizwan Mahmood and Klokker stayed together but the scoring rate slipped, and with 15 overs gone, Denmark needed 91 runs from 30 balls. A good all-round bowling performance restricted therm to 123/4 from their 20 overs.
Canada (4-2) play Nepal (3-3) tomorrow and are in excellent position to move onto the next round as a third place qualifier, as they have a strong net-run rate. Afghanistan seem certain to move on to play Namibia, with the winner going straight to the final, and the loser to face the winner of the play-offs between 2nd and 3rd placed qualifiers. Canada, if they qualify, are likely to play either Ireland or Scotland.