North Field, National Sports Centre (United States won toss): Canada beat United States by 82 runs

Canada won the ICC Americas Under-17 Match Play Tournament with a game to spare after handing the United States a heavy defeat yesterday.

The Canadians, who received solid contributions from their top-order batsmen, rattled up 212 for seven in their allotted overs after being asked to bat on a flat track.

In reply, the US folded for 130 in the 41st over to leave Canada’s unbeaten record intact.

“We really stood up today when it mattered,” Errol Barrow, the Canada coach, said. “We executed the plan that we came out here with and it made me pleased as a coach.”

The Canadians were never really troubled during their innings and excellent running between the stumps and disciplined batting led to them virtually batting the Americans out of the match.

Abraash Khan played a genuine captain’s innings for Canada, gathering 61 from 52 balls, with eight boundaries. The right-handed bat came to the crease with his team comfortably poised at 102 for two and shared in several useful partnerships that kept the Canadians on course for a decent total for their bowlers to defend.

Openers Harsh Thaker and Thursaanth Anantharajan got Canada off to a flyer, putting on 60 runs for the first wicket in 13 overs, with the latter dominating the stand with 48 from 81 balls.

“My top order put their hands up today and delivered,” Barrow said.

Canada lost three wickets for ten runs in the space of two overs trying to accelerate the run-rate in the closing overs, but by then the damage had been done.

The Americans used seven bowlers in vain trying to dismiss the Canadians, with Jash Patel, the left-arm spinner, whose arsenal includes the chinaman, reaping the most success with two for 26.

Asked to score at a little more than four runs per over in reply, the US found themselves in early trouble at 19 for two in the fifth over of their innings.

Kushai Ganji and Jash Patel added 38 runs for the third wicket to memontarily halt the slide. But once Ganji departed in the thirteenth over, caught off the left-arm spin of Kurt Ramdath for 28, wickets continued to tumble at regular intervals, as the Canada attack tightened the screws while bowling a steady line and length.

Early-order bats Mohak Buch and Sagar Patel and middle-order bats Arjun Patel and Novendra Boodhoo were the remaining US batsmen managing double figures.

Had it not been for the 22 extras Canada leaked, the US might have been dismissed even cheaper.

Thaker, the left arm spinner, took three for 26 bowling his allotted ten overs unchanged.

“Thaker is a part timer and I think he has been the best bowler of the tournament so far,” Barrow said. “He has taken wickets and his economy rate has been fantastic.”

Harman Sidhu, the off spinner, and Ramdath, the left-arm spinner, took two wickets each.

Canada will face hosts Bermuda in the final match of the tournament today.

The Bermuda Cricket Board paid homage yesterday to the Bermuda Government and Dunkley’s Dairy, the local distributor for Pepsi, for their support of a competition that features the three leading under-17 teams in the Americas region.

“This competition is a vital part of the preparation for the Under-19 World Cup and already our players and coaching staff have learnt some valuable lessons,” Lloyd Fray, the BCB president, said. “The ability to host sporting events in Bermuda is an economic as well as a cricketing opportunity, so we are extremely grateful that the Government of Bermuda and Dunkley’s Dairy have helped to make this happen.

“It has been a great opportunity for the Bermuda public to connect with and cheer for our young men. I look forward to many more opportunities for us to showcase our beautiful country.”