Navneet Dhaliwal top scored for Canada
Canada played Kenya in their second match of the WCL Division 2 in Namibia. Both teams come off losses in their opening games and a win was essential to keep qualification hopes alive. Canada had the same eleven as in game one and after winning the toss decided to bat. Rizwan Cheema smashed 57 from 30 balls, and then Hansra (43) and Dhaliwal (93) took Canada to an excellent total of 257/6. A strong bowling performance, led by 4 wickets from Desai gave Canada a much needed 46-run win
Kumar and Cheema opened the batting and got off to a restrained start until Rizwan Cheema opened Canada’s boundary count in the fifth over against Kenya. He hit two sixes next over and continued until bowled for 57 (from 30 balls out of a partnership of 71) by spinner Shem Ngoche, just after striking his third six. Gunasekera and Kumar took the total into the nineties before they were both out in quick succession, both making 15. Hansra and Dhaliwal put together an excellent partnership, Dhaliwal reach his fifty with two sixes in the 42nd over. The 45th over, bowled by Odhiambo was eventful. The century partnership (the first of the tournament) came up from the first ball, and Dhaliwal struck a boundary to bring up the 200 from the second. Hansra was caught from the fourth ball for 43 from 80 balls, and Hamza Tariq was bowled first ball. Wijeratne joined Dhaliwal and they did well to take 53 runs from the last five overs, Dhaliwal falling in the last over for 93. Canada finished on 257/6.
Pervez struck early as Kenya started their reply, bowling Odhiambo in the third over. Dhindsa had Obanda caught behind to reduce Kenya to 20/2. Obuya and Karim put together a good partnership of 95, only broken when Dhindsa returned to the attack and dismissed Karim for 50. Steady bowling saw Kenya fall behind the required run rate, and when they tried to accelerate, wickets fell to spinners Dutta and Desai. Kenya’s last hope was Obuya but Desia had him caught by Hansra for 78, and followed up with another wicket next ball. Desai and Dhindsa took the final two wickets to give Canada the win. Desai finished with 4/45, Dhindsa 3/28, and Dutta 2/39
In other matches Nambia made it two wins in a row with a comfortable win over Uganda to go top of the table, but Nepal upset the Netherlands in a low-scoring match. Namibia are thus the only team with two wins, with Netherlands, Canada, Nepal and Uganda all with one win and one loss. The Kenyans are bottom without a win- a real decline for a team that has reached a World Cup semi final. Canada’s next match is against Nepal on January 20th.