Canada pulled off the most exciting victory in the Under-19 World Cup Qualifying tournament so far when they edged United States in a pulsating finish yesterday.

Set 242 runs for victory, the US rallied in a last-wicket stand between captain Alex Shoff and Sahil Patel, which produced 48 runs after they came together at 192 for nine in the 43rd over.

That the US even got that close to victory was astonishing after they had the worst possible start, losing wickets in the second, third, fourth and fifth overs to be ten for four before a fifth-wicket stand of 57 between Srihari Dasarathy, who made 21, and Guaranshi Sharma, with 43, got them back in the game.

Dasarathy’s dismissal made it 67 for five which quickly became 74 for six and then 84 for seven as the US faced the prospect of falling to the lowest total of the tournament so far.

However, late innings resistance led by Shoff not only took their total to some respectability but also set up an exciting finish after he and Karan Patel added 77 for the seventh wicket before Patel was bowled by Muhammad Khan to make it 161 for eight.

That left the US needing 76 runs for victory in the last ten overs but with only two wickets remaining.

That did not deter them, though, as Shoff scored the tournament’s first century to cause some anxiety in the Canada camp. Shoff, who came to the crease at 67 for five, got valuable support in the tailend to reach his century, as Patel contributed 29 and Keifer Phill adding a useful 14 before last man Patel added 11.

In the end the US fell by the narrowest of margins as Shoff went for a single on the third ball of the last over from Harsh Thanker and was run out by Arslan Khan’s throw.

Muhammad Khan and his new-ball partner, Suliman Khan, shared five wickets with Muhammad taking three for 52 and Suliman two for 38.

Earlier Canada posted 241 in 48.1 overs with Muhammad Khan, batting at No 5 leading the way with 68. Opener Karan Patel, who claimed three of the first four wickets, led the US bowling with four for 40 from 9.1 overs while Shoff had two for 39 off nine overs.

After today’s rest day, Bermuda, winless after two matches, will take on the US at St David’s tomorrow in what will be a must-win game for the home side as they set their sights on finishing second and securing a place in the global qualifier in Nepal.