Canada won the opening game of the Auty Cup by 34 runs, thanks in part to a fine performance from new captain Nitish Kumar, who made 60 when Canada were asked to bat, and then took two wickets for 13, as the USA fell short of Canada’s modest 239/8. Srimantha Wijeyratne top scored with 66, and a useful 9th wicket partnership saved Canada after a middle order collapse. The US were pegged back by good spin bowling after a promising start, and astute bowling changes kept them well behind the run rate. Pervez took three wickets, and Dhindsa two.

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USA won the toss and chose to field first. Canada omitted Parveen Saroye, Farhan Malik and Salman Nazar from the squad to leave an eleven of Nitish Kumar (c), Hamza Tariq (wk), Bhavindu Adhihetty, Srimantha Wijeyratne, Varun Sehdev, Shehan Kamileen, Dilon Heyliger, Junaid Siddiqui, Nikhil Dutta, Satsimranjit Dhindsa, and Cecil Pervez.

USA struck an early blow when Elmore Hutchinson had Bhavindu Adhihetty caught behind by Dodson for 4 off 12 balls. Some poor US fielding gifted Kumar a couple of lives early on and he made them pay for the dropped catches with a steady half century, reaching the fifty mark with a six. Wijeyratne also was dropped on his way to fifty as Canada advanced to 118/1 after 25 overs. Srini Santhanam hurt his shoulder throwing the ball in while fielding on the boundary and had to leave the field after bowling very well, troubling both bats in his 6 overs.

Kumar made 60 (78 balls) out of a partnership of 104 before being stumped down the leg side. Dodson made this stumping but missed another chance as Wijeyratne was beaten down leg. Wijeyratne made 66 from 78 balls before being caught at deep mid wicket off Taylor. After such a good start, a big total seemed on the cards but Wijeyratne’s wicket was rapidly followed by four more, mostly to shots across the line, as 152/2 became 169/7. Steve Taylor did the damage taking five wickets for 47, with contributions from Timil Patel (2/35). A good partnership between Varun Sehdev (28*) and Dhindsa (32*) took Canada to 239/8 from their 50 overs.

In reply the USA got off to a quick start and the score had reached 44 in the 5th over before the first wicket fell, Abdullah, caught behind down the leg side off Pervez. The scoring rate slowed somewhat but the runs kept on coming – 80/1 after 13 overs. As with the Canadian innings, the introduction of spin, this time with Dutta and Kumar, made a difference. The scoring rate slowed, and then three wickets fell, Amsterdam leg before to Kumar, then Taylor run out by Kumar, and Dodson caught, again off Kumar’s bowling. Standford hit a quick 23, but was caught behind off Dhindsa who bowled a fine second spell. With 20 overs to go, the US were 137/5. Pervez had Patel caught behind for the 6th wicket, bringing in the injured Santhanam. Fahad Babar had opened the innings and was still there on 62 until Junaid Siddiqui had him stumped. Debutant Dilon Hayter had Santhanam leb before, and the US were 8 down. Hutchinson and Singh kept Canada waiting with an obdurate 9th wicket partnership, until Singh became Pervez’s third victim, caught at long on with the US needing 48 from 5 overs. Dhindsa took the final wicket for what was eventually a comfortable victory.

CricHQ scorecard