Canada drew with UAE in the Intercontinental match at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City. Canada dismissed UAE for 116 thanks to 6/43 from Jeremy Gordon including a hat-trick, assisted by five catches behind the stumps by Hamza Tariq. Centuries from Kumar and Daesrath allowed Canada to declare on 369/6, but UAE batted out the last day for the draw.
On the final day, Canada batted on for 15 balls, losing Daesrath for 11, and Hansra for 67, at which point they declared, with a lead of 253. Gordon carried on where he left off in the first innings, having Haroon Iftikhar caught in the slips in his second over. Canada however found the UAE batting offering more resistance the second time around, and Arshad Ali and Khurram Khan had 50 on the board without further loss. Gordon made the breakthrough, trapping Arshad Ali leg-before for a 75-ball 17 just before lunch. Patel removed first-innings hero Patil for 28, and UAE were 94/3. Skipper Khurram Khan brought up the hundred and his personal fifty with a cut for four. Baidwan was bowling well and got a well deserved wicket when he bowled Shaiman Anwar – 115/4. That was as close as Canada got, as Khurram Khan batted out time, completing a patient century.
Jeremy Gordon takes the third wicket of his hat-trick (E Norfolk photo)
Maiden first class hundred for Damodar Daesrath (EN photo)
Play resumed on Day 3 after a first-day washout and a brief period of play on day 2 where Canada took four wickets. Swapnil Patil soon completed an excellent fifty out of 82 but wickets continued to fall as Hamza Tariq took his third catch behind the stumps to give Gordon his third wicket. Baidwan had danger man Patil dropped at slip but then bowled Nasir Aziz in the next over and UAE were 102/6. A catch in the gully gave Baidwan his second wicket, but Patil was still there. Jeremy Gordon then wound up the innings – Amjad Javed was caught at mid on, and two catches by the keeper gave him a hat-trick. Gordon ended up with 6/43, Hamza Tariq with 5 catches, and Patil was stranded on 76*, contributing over 65% of UAE’s 116 all out. Gordon’s hat-trick is not the first for Canada in this competition, Umar Bhatti having perfotmed the feat against Ireland in 2007.
Patel and Gunasekera opened for Canada, taking the score to 20 at which point Patel was given out leg-before. Kumar came in and helped advance the total to 53/1 at lunch. Gunasekera made 28 before attempting to hit leg spinner Arshad Ali and only succeeding in getting stumped but Kumar advanced to an excellent century, well supported by Bagai (43), and taking Canada well into the lead. Daesrath and Hansra took the total past 350, Daesrath completing his maiden first-class hundred.
Day 2:
Heavy overnight rain prevented any play on the first day and the start of play on Friday was delayed due to a wet outfield. When play finally got under way, Canada won the toss and chose to field. Jeremy Gordon struck in the third over, having Haroon Iftikhar caught behind- Hamza Tariq taking the gloves although Bagai is in the team. Hamza took a second catch, this time from Osinde as UAE fell to 11/2. There was an early tea, apparently to allow further drying, then some confusion over a fixed sightscreen that was not wide enough to allow Baidwan to bowl round the wicket, and then rain started- in between which the UAE advanced to 48 without further loss. Desai took an excellent catch at point to break the partnership, and to give Gordon his second wicket. Desai then came on to bowl and took a wicket in his first over – 63/4. UAE added another 10 runs before bad light ended play for the day.