USA Close In On Qualifying After Beating Bermuda

Scorecards: USA vs Bermuda | Canada vs Suriname
On a beautiful warm day at Indianapolis World Sports Park, host country USA comfortably defeated Bermuda. USA’s victory sees them close in on a place at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier in July this year. In the afternoon game Canada defeated a gallant Suriname to remain undefeated for the tournament.

Timil Patel picked up 3 for 22 in USA win over Bermuda. Photo by Shiek Mohamed

Bermuda needed a big match against USA but the Americans never allowed them any momentum throughout the game. USA struck early when Adil Bhatti ran out Dion Stovell from the deep in the second over. Hemp was then joined by Pitcher at the crease but USA kept the pressure on and the scoring rate below five per over, causing Hemp to finally whole out to deep mid-wicket for 19. Pitcher was struggling to rotate the strike due to some particularly tight bowling from Daniel Ahmed who finished with no wicket for 7 from his 4 overs. When Pitcher eventually retired hurt, Bermuda really needed to find the boundary in the last 6 overs, however two more wickets to Timil Patel reduced Bermuda’s total to 97/5 from their 20 overs.

Bermuda would need something special with the ball to steal the game away from the USA but Steven Taylor and Fahad Babar would have none of it. The in-form pair again came out positively taking 24 from Stefan Kelly’s first 2 overs. Taylor was the star of show, combining timing and power in his innings of 60 from 39 balls, which included 5 fours and 3 sixes. Commenting on his player of the match performance, Taylor said “It was nice to get into a rhythm today and contribute to a good win. I would have liked to have finished off the game though.” Babar played the support role beautifully and took USA past Bermuda’s total to finish 22 not out. The 8 wicket victory to the USA means that Bermuda will now need to win their next two games and hope results fall their way to progress to the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier.

In the afternoon Canada batted first looking to assert their authority over the winless Suriname. Again they started well thanks to Rizwan Cheema and Ruvindu Gunasekera. The opening pair had added 59 when Gunasekera was dismissed for 12. Cheema was dispatching the bowling to all parts before being dismissed for 46 from 35 balls. Nitish Kumar carried Cheema’s momentum into his class display of batting. He scored all around the ground and was particularly sharp with his running between the wickets during his innings of 43 from 27 balls. Jimmy Hansra also chipped in with 30 (22 balls) before Suriname fought back in the last three overs through Muneshwar Patandin who took 2 wickets in the 18th over and then another 4 in the final over to finish with amazing figures of 6-22. Canada finished their 20 overs 157/8.

Suriname did not appear intimidated by the biggest chase of the tournament. They took the attack to Canada showing great intent that has not been evident from their batsmen to date. After 3 overs, Suriname was 39 and showed a willingness to run hard as well find the boundary regularly. However when Cheema removed Haslim for 26 (17 balls) and then Dutta had Patandin caught at deep long on for 36 (35 balls), the task became too much for Suriname. Hardat and Boodram were both run out and while Dudnath (20) and Singh (17) threw the bat at the end but it was not quite enough finishing 133/6 from their 20 overs. The Canadians won the match by 24 runs, however, Canadian coach Mukesh Narula felt there was room to improve in their bowling and fielding performance “we looked fatigued and lacked the required energy in the field.” Although Suriname remains winless they will certainly be buoyed by their vastly improved efforts with the bat and in particular their player of the match performance from Muneshwar Patandin.

With two days remaining Canada and USA look to have top two positions confirmed but there is still room for Bermuda to sneak into the ICC World Cup Qualifier should they cause two upsets.

Today will USA play Suriname starting at 10:00am, while Canada take on Bermuda in the afternoon match.

Scores in Brief:
Bermuda v USA
Bermuda 97/5 from 20 overs (Pitcher 24 retired hurt; T Patel 3-22)
USA 101/2 from 12.1 overs (Taylor 60, Babar 22*)
USA won by 8 wickets
Man of the Match: Steven Taylor (USA)

Canada v Suriname
Canada 157/8 from 20 overs (Cheema 46, Kumar 43; Patandin 6-22)
Suriname 133/6 from 20 overs (Patandin 36, Haslim 26, Bin Zafar 2-17)
Canada won by 24 runs
Man of the Match: Muneshwar Patandin (Suriname)

Tournament Standings: