Canada Qualify For 2016 ICC Under-19 World Cup After Beating USA

Canada remain the only undefeated team after day five of the ICC Americas U19 Division 1 Championships in doing so secure their ticket to the 2016 ICC U19 Cricket World Cup. In yet another competitive match Canada took on second placed USA at Somerset Cricket Club.

Canada century maker Harsh Thaker. Photo courtesy of Bermuda Cricket Association

Canada won the toss and elected to bat on a flat track, however that didn’t stop Karan Patel, as he cleaned up Akashdeep Gill on the first legal delivery of the day. He quickly followed up this effort, knocking over Amish Taploo to have Canada in trouble at 2-11. Arslan Khan joined Thursaanth Anantharajah at the wicket and settled in to a rhythm. The two got to work building a solid partnership, and moved the score to 78 before Khan skied one to backward square leg. Keifer Phill, at deep at fine leg, moved quickly to his left, diving full length to take an outstanding catch.

Anantharajah followed shortly after, as did skipper Muhammad Khan, and the pressure was back on the Canadian batsmen. Harsh Thaker was joined at the crease by Sarbjot Sivia and the two started their rescue mission. Thaker played the role of aggressor, while Sivia pushed singles, rotating the strike and allowing Thaker to take calculated risks. S. Patel bowled Sivia to register his first wicket of the day, as Canada looked destined for a score of 230 at 6-188.

Thaker, with support from Miraj Patel then took to the USA bowling attack, launching 14 fours and five sixes in his innings. Thaker reached his century in appropriate fashion, launching a 6 down the ground. At the beginning of the 49th over, Canada were 6-245, however this would change and change quickly as Thaker and Haseeb would push the score to 8-273 when Thaker was dismissed for an entertaining 121 off 93 deliveries. The following three deliveries would include a boundary and a six as Canada closed their innings at 9-289

USA started their innings quickly, with the score racing to 35 in the 4th over before Mohak Buch edged one to Sivia for 16. Canada started to tighten the screws, as Yadunandan Polisetty was run out in an ugly mix up with Kushal Ganji. USA continued to push the score along, with Ganji and Guaranshu Shama controlling the pace of the game. Ganji brought up his fifty, while the two brought up a 100 run partnership, however Sharma fell shortly after, advancing down the wicket against Shlok Patel, only to be beaten by the turn and stumped by Sivia.

Ganji continued on his way, hitting 10 boundaries as he brought up his 100 in the 44th over from just 116 deliveries, however the required run rate continued to climb. USA struggled to find the boundary, and when Ganji was dismissed on the last delivery of the 49th over, the challenge became too great, as M. Khan claimed three wickets in the final over to see USA finish 9-252.

Khan finished up with figures of 5-53 off his 10 overs, while Harsh Thaker was awarded Man of the Match honours for his 121.

With this win, Canada secure their berth in the 2016 U19 Cricket World Cup. Coach Errol Barrow was proud of his boys achievement “We came to this tournament with the goal of qualifying and we’ve achieved that, I couldn’t be prouder of them. Today was a very important game for us, and I thought the guys played their best game of the tournament.”

Canada take on Bermuda tomorrow at St David’s Cricket Club in the final match of the tournament.

Scores in Brief:
USA v Bermuda
Canada 289/8 from 50 overs (Thaker 121, A. Khan 34, Buch 3-38)
USA 252/9 from 50 overs (Ganji 110, Sharma 40, M. Khan 5-53)
Canada won by 37 runs
Man of the Match: Harsh Thaker (Canada)

Tournament Standings: