Canada are playing a Zimbabwe XI in a first-class game in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, at King City, Aug 2-5, 2010. Captain Cheema’s unbeaten patient 46 and Patel’s rapid 32 were the only bright spots as Canada slumped to 129 all out on a challenging wicket. Canada had Zimbabwe at 36\/3 before Sibanda and Ervine took them to 88 without further loss at the close.
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\nZimbabwe won the toss, and Canada batted first on a wicket that looked as though it might favour seam bowling. Canada got off to a good start but middle order collapse has left them in dire straits.
\nCanada opened brightly, with Patel striking three boundaries off the 5th over. He made a run-a-ball 32, taking advantage of some loose bowling to hit through the off-side before falling to an excellent catch in the gully. The 50 came up in the 13th over but Bastiampillai (11) was caught behind the wicket shortly afterwards. Jyoti departed by the same route two overs later, leaving Canada at 57\/3. Kumar managed one scoring stroke from 24 balls before being caught, and Chattergoon was leg-before for a duck. Limbada was also leg-before and Canada were 6 down with only 67 on the board. Cheema in an innings quite out of character got his head down, and played defensively, at one point taking 44 balls to score six runs. Hamza Tariq was fooled by a google and Bhatti spooned a catch first ball – 92\/8. Cheema began to play more aggressively, smashing a six over long-on as he became top-scorer in the innings before briefly rain stopped play with the score on 111\/8, Cheema 38*. The tail could not stay with him, and he was unbeaten on 46 when the last wicket fell. <\/p>\n
Bhatti took two quick wickets when zimbabwe replied and when Osinde had Dabengwa caught behind, Zimbabwe are 36\/3. however no further wickets fell, and Zimbabwe have the upper hand going into day 2. <\/p>\n