Canada 132/4 vs Bermuda 93
Bermuda’s hopes of an inaugural trip to the ICC T20 World Cup finals, were blown up by Canada at North Field, National Sports Centre, as the home team fell to a 39-run defeat in the final and deciding match of the ICC World Cup Americas Regional qualifying tournament.
Qualification had come down to the ultimate game of the competition, with Bermuda in the drivers seat, based on points, but Canada ahead on Net Run Rate – the second deciding factor – meaning that only victory by either would establish a place in the finals for either country.
In the end, the Canadians best mastered the occasion and earned a prestigious place in the country’s cricketing history.
Sent to the field first after losing the toss, the home team did well to limit their opponents to a slightly below par total of 132.
Cejay Outerbridge removed dangerman Aaron Johnston early for just 15, with the team total just 28, but Navneet Dhallwal did well to hang around and anchor the innings with a well played 45.
Nicolas Kirton (26) and Harsh Thaker (21) provided valuable middle to late order assistance in moving the visitors to a respectable score of 132 for four on a pitch made difficult for batting by recent rains.
Right-arm, off-break bowler Dominic Sabir took two for 34 for Bermuda, while Cejay Outerbridge and Derrick Brangman each took one wicket.
What started as a quite attainable run chase for the Delray Rawlins led Bermuda side quickly became an increasingly arduous task, before venturing into the realm of the impossible, as Canada’s bowlers engineered an early order batting collapse from which Bermuda never recovered.
Rawlins (one), Tre Manders (one) and Dominic Sabir (one) all went cheaply, while opener Kamau Leverock (22), Terryn Fray (30) and Allan Douglas Jr (22) each got solid starts, but failed to build on such foundations, the result being a failure to pass the century mark as a unit, eventually being bowled out for a disappointing 93.
Kaleem Sana-Ur-Rehman was the chief destroyer of Bermuda with his left-arm fast bowling, seizing three wickets for just four runs from 3.5 overs, while Jeremy Gordon was equally unplayable, as he claimed three for six from two overs.
The results means that Canada, not Bermuda, will have the honour of a first appearance at the upcoming World Cup finals, to be hosted jointly by the United States and West Indies.
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