Canada lost to the Netherlands by eight wickets in the game to decide seventh place in the ICC World Cup Qualifier on Tuesday at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, New Zealand. This was Canada’s eighth loss in nine ODIs against the Netherlands during what had been described as an expected “Golden Age” of Canadian cricket by a former President of the then Canadian Cricket Association. Canada was in a strong position in a no result game last summer that was washed out at Maple Leaf CC, although if the Dutch had won the toss, the positions may have been reversed.

Ruvindu Gunasekera (54) and Nitish Kumar (22) put 55 on the board before Kumar was caught off the spin of Seelar to end the thirteenth over. Canada stood at 55 for one, then lost skipper Jimmy Hansra for a duck. Raza-ur Rehman and Gunasekera ticked along until Gunasekera fell to Michael Rippon, leaving Canada 112 for three in the twenty sixth over. Raza-ur Rehman and Usman Limbada (19) added 46 for the sixth wicket. Raza-ur Rehman was then bowled for 88 by Ahsan Malik (189/7), his innings included 11 boundaries. Khurram Chohan chipped in with 14 before being caught from the last ball of the scheduled 50 overs. Canada 210 all out.

Rippon took four for 37 from ten overs of left-arm wrist spin, while left arm orthodox spinner Pietar Seelaar picked up two for 41 from ten overs. Seamer Ahsan Malik captured two for 12 from five overs.

Stefan Myburgh made 36 before being bowled with the Dutch on 81 in the nineteenth over. Wesley Baresi came in and clipped 28 runs fairly quickly before falling to the last ball of the twentyfifth over. Netherlands 121 for two wickets. Ed Szwarcynski moved on to a steady 75 not out from 116 balls and skipper Peter Borren steered his team to victory with 61 not out from 34 balls.

So that concludes Canada’s participation in this ICC World Cup Qualifier. A disappointing outcome. A surprising outcome? Sadly, probably not.

Eddie Norfolk
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