The Auty Cup series concluded with two T20 matches in Toronto, and Canada won both, completing a satisfactory week of cricket in which they demonstrated they were clearly the stronger of the two teams.
In the first match Canada earned a five wicket win, chasing down 106 thanks to 58 from Gunasekera after a poor USA batting performance and a fine display in the field from the Canadians.
In Game 2 Canada batted first making 189/5 with Gunasekera adding a 42 ball 73 to his 58 in the first innings. USA struggled in reply, and Canada wrapped up the series with a seventy eight run win.
Game 2 CricHQ card

Cheema took over the captaincy after missing the 50 over match through injury. Osinde and Gordon started well, and Taylor had trouble connecting as he attempted some ambitious shots. He survived and hit two boundaries from the fourth overs. Osinde struck in the next over, Surajbally fending off a nasty short ball to the keeper. Some dreadful running donated Canada a wicket, Stanford run out by Limbada in the next over. Taylor, after escaping a close call on a stumping off Baidwan, then was bowled by Junaid Siddiqui attempting a reverse sweep for a sketchy 26. Nazar came on and bowled Timbawala with a lovely flighted delivery – 51-4 at the halfway mark. Dodson was run out trying for a second run – an excellent quick throw from Daesrath to the bowler’s end.
Gordon returned and three short pitched balls to Patel resulted in a wicket – caught behind trying to hook. A combination of good fielding and field placing kept the USA from finding the boundary as the overs wound down, despite the occasional full toss and long hop. Ganesh was caught in the deep, but then Ahmed and Raup finally reached the ropes with sixes in the 19th and 20th overs. Ahmed was stumped by Bagai, his third victim in a top-class performance behind the wicket, and a third run out from the last ball of the innings had USA 107/9. The Canadian bowling was decent, and the fielding outstanding – the US batting less impressive. Coach Logie described it as an efficient performance, and highlighted Bagai’s contribution.
Cheema and Gunasekera opened for Canada and were faced by spin from the outset (the innings featured only one over of medium pace). A cut to the ropes from Cheema got Canada underway from the second ball, and he was dropped at long off to end the over. Gunasekera smashed a long hop for four to start the second over, and Canada were off to a flying start- 18/0 from two overs. Cheema learned nothing from his escape in the first over, skying an easy catch from Rajp’s first ball. Gunasekera was perhaps fortunate to survive an lbw appeal by Ahmed as he swung against the spin, but then cut a short ball through the covers to keep the scoreboard moving. Limbada was also fortunate, given not out on a close call on a run-out decision. The fifty came up in the 7th over before Limbada was bowled off his pads, trying to sweep. US captain Patel brought himself on, and Gunasekera dispatched him into the corn field with a massive straight drive. Another straight drive took him to fifty from 34 balls. Bagai (14) contributed some classy off-side shots but was run out attempting a single that was never on- a poor call by Gunasekera it seemed. Baidwan was promoted but only lasted three balls, trying to sweep a straight ball and plumb leg before. Hansra provided a simple caught and bowled chance two balls later, but it was put down – batting suddenly seemed more difficult but Canada only needed 10 runs. Hansra hit a straight six to bring Canada within 2, then with the scores tied Gunasekera spoiled his average by sweeping to mid-wicket – out for 58 from 50 balls. Junaid Siddiqui finished the job with a it over mid-wicket.
Match 1 Scorecard on CricHQ
In the second match Canada batted first, with Gunasekera and Cheema opening again. The first over from medium pacer Mital Patel saw 15 runs, a dropped catch and a six from Gunasekera. The Americans immediately reverted to spin, but Cheema got off the mark with a square cut for four, following it up with a straight drive all along the ground for another. Gunasekera showed his versatility with two clever ramp shots for four, as Canada raced to 50 in the fourth over. Ganesh was greeted with a slog-swept six by Gunasekera, 63-0 after 5 overs. Rajp came on, and just as in the first match Cheema (14) perished, his slog sweep not able to clear mid-wicket. Nitish Kumar came in at number 3 after missing out in the first game. The run rate slowed, with the two young batsmen pushing singles to keep the scoreboard ticking over. Gunasekera completed his second half-century of the day with a boundary from just 33 balls, the first of three boundaries from consecutive balls. The 100 game up after 11 overs. Rajp, who looked the best of the USA bowler, had Kumar dropped at mid-wicket, and insult was added to injury when Kumar finessed a delicate late cut for four. Gunasekera, after hitting Patel for four, then six was caught trying a reverse sweep- perhaps throwing away the chance of a century. He made 73 from 41 balls with three sixes and nine fours. Kumar made 21 before being caught and bowled off Timil Patel who also induced Limbada to give a catch to deep cover – 146/4. Jimmy Hansra (22*) smote a couple of big straight sixes, and Bastiampillai (20) also was able to find the boundary including an audacious reverse pull before being run out in the final over. Baidwan came in and hit the last two balls for 4, then six, to take Canada to 189/5.
Dodson got off the mark with a six over square leg off Baidwan, and both openers went for their shots, although not with much success in terms of making contact. Taylor, who seemed fortunate to escape being given out caught behind off his first ball, was run out by some sharp fielding, although the decision may have been harsh. Baidwan was bowling well, and in the same over had Stanford caught behind by Bastiampillai. Pervez, brought into the side for the second match, struck immediately, bowling Ganesh who was trying an ugly slog to a straight ball – 3 wickets down, only 22 on the board, and 6 overs gone. Dodson and Timbawala pushed the ball around but were falling far behind the required run rate; the fifty came up in the 10th over with another six from Dodson. Timbawala skied a catch to mid on to give Siddiqui a wicket. Dodson (44) hit a couple more sixes before smashing a catch to cover, well taken by Cheema. Patel provided Baidwan with catching practice at long off – 78/6 which rapidly became 79/7 when Rajp hit Nazar to long-on. Nazar provided the first major lapse in the field for Canada by failing to hold a return catch next ball but a stumping from Bastiampillai resulted in the 8th wicket two balls later. Pervez bowled his 4 overs for just 9 runs, and Nazar took 3/27. Gordon and Surujbally kept Canada in the field and the American score into three figures.