Scorecard
The rivalry between USA and Canada continues this week, with three games slated at Toronto, Canada. Game one saw the USA winning the toss and choosing to field.
Roy Silva picked up 4 for 32 and hit an unbeaten 38 in USA win over Canada.
Muhammad Ali Khan and Elmore Hutchinson started the proceedings for Team USA and kept Canada in check at 49/3 after 12 overs, with Hutchinson claiming 3 for 24 including the wickets of top scorer Srimantha Wijeyeratne, 29, and the prized scalp of Canadian captain Nitish Kumar.
Japen Patel and Roy Silva were introduced into the attack and kept the pressure on the Canadians. The two bowlers enjoyed economical spells that reduced Canada to 78 for 8, including the prized wicket of Rizwan Cheema. A tenth wicket partnership of 49 runs between Saad Bin Zafar, 23 and Satsimranjit Singh, 24, lifted the total to 141 before the Canadians were all out in 40.3 overs. The Canadian tally included 28 extras. Roy Silva was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 10-1-32-4.
During Team USA’s chase, opener Sagar Patel fell cheaply, but Syed Abdullah, 32, and Captain Ibrahim Khaleel, 26, steadied the inning with the total climbing to 50 for 1 in 13 overs. Wickets then fell at regular intervals against tight bowling spells from Cecil Pervez 2 for 41 and Saad Zafar 1 for 22, keeping Canada in the game at 112/5 after 35 overs. But Roy Silva’s unbeaten 38 (4x4s 2×6), held one end firm with support from Timil Patel, 16 not out, to see Team USA reach their target of 142 in 40.1 overs with five wickets in hand.
The second of the three 50-overs matches takes place today, with Team USA looking to go 2-0 and thus snatching the 2017 Auty Cup from their northern neighbors, for the first time in 26 years. While on the other hand Team Canada is looking to level the series and give themselves a chance to maintain their unbeaten string of victories against their western neighbors.
Story courtesy of www.cricclubs.com
