Canada Humbles USA

The USA took on arch rivals Canada in the game of the day at the Bermuda National Stadium in the top of the table clash.

Canada won the toss and elected to field in overcast conditions, opening bowlers Calvert Hooper (3/ 41) and Khurram Chohan (1/37) made full use of the new ball.

The USA’s opening batsmen Carl Wright and Orlando Baker played and missed with great regularly, as the ball seamed and move of the pitch. The USA limped to 28 / 1 in the mandatory (10) power play overs.

USA’s Captain Steve Massiah played positively for his 17 runs and stroked three delightful boundaries before he missed judged the length of a delivery and was bowled pulling to leg.

The USA innings only had one partnership of significance throughout, that was the eighth wicket between, Rashard Marshall(48 runs), and Timroy Allen (37 runs), as the Canadian bowlers kept a tight grip on the scoring.

Both Batsmen batted sensibly, taking little chances, and ran well between wickets, but also took advantage of anything loose. Rashard Marshall hit three 6’s and one 4, Timroy Allen belted three 6’s in a very entertaining phase of the innings.

Umar Bhatti with figures of (9.1-2-17-2) was the most economical bowler for the Canadians but was supported by Calvert Hooper (3/41) from his ten; Khurram Chohan was 1/37 from ten and Hiral Patel went 2/16 from five overs of spin.

In search of victory and top of the standing s, the Canadians got off to the best possible start, openers Trevin Bastiampillai scored 27 runs and Rizwan Cheema had a magnificent 114 not out, put on 98 runs for the first wicket.

Both batsmen played with authority but it was the more belligerent Rizwan Cheema with ten 4’s and five 6’s that took the energy from the USA team.

Rizwan Cheeema severely punished anything with width as the USA bowlers soon found out, he cut and lofted the ball over the infield with gusto.

All the USA bowlers toiled in vain, and only managed to take one solitary wicket, that of Trevin Bastiampillai who was caught in an attempt to pull a short ball from Orlando Baker that made height on him. He was only able to get it as far as the fielder at short fineleg.

However this did not stop the onslaught and Hiral Patel joined Cheema in an unbeaten partnership of 93 runs to see the Canada win with 11 overs remaining. Hiral Patel was not out with 34 runs including four 4’s from the 76 balls faced.