Gunasekera sweeps

The ICC Americas squad took on Jamaica in their final group stage match in the Nagico super 50 competition and just failed to record their first win. The Americas batted first, and put up their best score of the competition, 253/8, largely due to the contribution of four Canadians, Gunasekera (87), Wijereratne (45) Kumar (43) and Hamza Tariq (35). Jamaica lost wickets pushing for a bonus point to take them to the play-off round, and eventually needed a 36 run last wicket partnership to record a 1 wicket win.

Gunasekera returned as captain and opened the batting with the USA’s Taylor. Gunasekera got off the mark with a cut to the boundary, going after the bowling from the first ball, and followed with a nicely struck off drive for four in the second over. Taylor was caught behind attempting an expansive drive in the sixth over. Dodson helped Gunasekera bring up the half-century but did not look comfortable against the spinners who were introduced early. He was leg-before, and this brought in Nitish Kumar for an all-Canadian partnership. The spinners put a tight hold on scoring, and Gunasekera brought up a much-needed half century in the 26th over. The fifty partnership and the hundred came up shortly afterwards. When Jamaica tried pace again, Gunasekera hit Cotterel for six and four with lofted drives. The partnership advanced to 99 before Kumar was caught and bowled for 43. Gunasekera was eventually dismissed – leg-before – for an excellent 87. Wijereratne made a quick 45 before he was run out, and the Americas were headed for their best total of the tournament. Hamza Tariq hit out at the end making 35 from 13 balls, and the final score was 253/8.
The Americas took two early wickets to reduce Jamaica to 23/2. Campbell (82) led the way, but needing a win inside of 40 overs to earn a bonus point, wickets fell at regular intervals, three of them to Nitish Kumar, whose spin has impressed in this tournament. When the seventh, eigth and ninth wicket fell with the score on 218, a win looked on the cards but then patient batting from Thomas and Mindley stole victory for Jamaica.
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