Canada close in on Americas U15 title after thrilling win over Bermuda by International Cricket Council

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Scorecard:	Bermuda Under-15s v Canada Under-15s, Bahamas Under-15s v Cayman Islands Under-15s, Bermuda Development XI v United States of America Under-15s
Event:	Americas Under-15 Championship 2008

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DateLine: 11th August 2008

 

Canada produced an extraordinary fightback to beat Bermuda with three balls to spare at St.David’s CC, and thereby put one hand firmly on the Americas U15 Championship title. With only one round of fixtures remaining, Canada need only to beat winless Cayman Islands to win the tournament with an unbeaten record.

 

However, it took a brilliant undefeated innings of 44 from player of the match Bryan Henry to steer the Canadians home as at looked at one stage as if Bermuda were in the driving seat to claim victory. Chasing 168 for victory after Bermuda earlier were bowled out for 167 in 39,1 overs, at one point Canada were 85 for 6 after 25 overs.

 

Bryan had other ideas, and with invaluable support from Trevor Manoosingh, hit a series of searing boundaries as the pair added 71 for the seventh wicket. Manoosingh eventually departed in the 37th over for 19, off 39 balls with 1 four, but despite some nerves over the closing overs, the Canadians got home with three balls and two wickets remaining.

 

Apart from Bryan’s 44 not out off 68 balls, including 5 fours, for Canada skipper Nitish Kumar also contributed 31, off 51 balls with 3 fours. Pick of the Bermuda bowlers were Deunte Darrell, 2 for 27 off 8 overs, Tre Govia, 2 for 28 off 8 overs, and Greg Maybury, 2 for 38 off 8 overs. Earlier, in Bermuda’s innings, Kamau Leverock top-scored with 42, off 89 balls with 6 fours, while Greg Maybury, 29 off 48 balls with 3 fours, and Tre Govia, 22 off 17 balls with 1 four and 2 sixes, also made important contributions. Best of the Canadian bowlers was Siddharth Mookerji, with 3 for 20 in 4 overs, while Kumar kept up his impressive bowling form with 2 for 30 in 7,1 overs. Manoosingh completed a fine all-round game having taken 2 for 21 in 7 overs to add to his batting heroics.

 

At the National Sports Centre, with both teams looking for their first win of the tournament, the Cayman Islands and the Bahamas played out to an exciting tie, with both teams making 166 in their allotted 40 overs.

 

After choosing to bat first, the Cayman Islands made 166 for 9 in their 40 overs, largely thanks to a fine innings of 32 by number eight batter Adam Walter. Best of the rest was Santangelo Bush with 20. Wickets were shared around the Bahamas bowlers, with the pick perhaps being skipper Jermaine Adderley, 2 for 37 in 6 overs, and Kunal Sharma with 2 for 26 in 7 overs.

 

It was also Adderley and Sharma who spearheaded the Bahamas run-chase, with both players making 30, and sharing in an impressive fourth wicket partnership of 55. At 107 for 3 after 25 overs, a Bahamas victory certainly looked on the cards, but some great bowling from player of the match Dale Parker, 3 for 21 in 8 overs, as well as Codie McLaughlin, 2 for 33 in 8 overs, the Cayman Islands fought back towards a nerve-wracking final few overs.

 

At the start of the final over of the match, the Bahamas were 163 for 8, requiring 4 runs for victory with 2 wickets in hand. Cayman captain Shane Cato, who had not bowled previously in the innings, took the responsibility with the ball and did an outstanding job, giving away only 3 runs with a run out on the final ball ensuring a memorable tie.

 

At Southampton the USA did what they needed to do, win and boost their net run rate, to keep the faint title hopes alive. Andrew Ajodhi produced the best bowling performance of the tournament in taking 6 for 12 in 4,2 overs, all but one of his victims bowled, as the Bermuda Development XI were bundled out for a paltry 53 in 16,2 overs.

 

It could in fact have been far worse had opener Tre Manders not produced a superb innings of 30, off 38 balls with 6 fine fours, with the innings including 7 ducks. The USA knocked off the required runs in 7,4 overs, reaching 54 for 1. Steven Taylor provided the fireworks with an undefeated 31 off 22 balls, with 3 fours and 2 sixes.

 

Most eyes will thus be on the Bermuda v USA clash at the National Sports Centre on the final day of the Championship on Saturday, with an eye or two on the Canada v Cayman Islands game at the Police ground. In the unlikely event of unbeaten Canada losing to winless Cayman Islands, the winner of the Bermuda-USA game will join the Canadians at the top of the table, and net run rate will become the key factor. At Bailey’s Bay the Bahamas will take on the Bermuda Development XI in a tussle that is likely to earn the winner fourth place.

 

		P	W	L	T	NR	PTS	NRR
1	CANADA	4	4	0	0	0	16	1,528
2	BERMUDA	4	3	1	0	0	12	3,276
3	UNITED STATES	4	3	1	0	0	12	1,977
4	BERMUDA DEVELOPMENT XI	4	1	3	0	0	4	-1,925
5	CAYMAN ISLANDS	4	0	3	1	0	2	-2,038
6	BAHAMAS	4	0	3	1	0	2	-2,450

(Article: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author only.
Copyright © 2008 International Cricket Council)