Powered by Rizwan Cheema’s ultra belligerent 35 ball 72, which included 8 sixes, Canada cruised to an eight wicket win over hosts Bermuda in their August 24, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Americas Region Final 10th match encounter. Set to make 117 to win off 20 overs, after having dismissed Bermuda for 116 off 19.5, the Canadians easily reached their target on the back of Cheema’s amazing power hitting.
Canada scored 120/2 off just 13.1 overs to win by 8 wickets.
Skipper Navneet Dhaliwal who had come to the crease at the fall of the first wicket, after yet another disappointing failure by Rodrigo Thomas caught by Bascombe off the bowling of Rawlins for a four ball 1, remained unbeaten on 24, made from 27 balls with two sixes. Ravinderpal Singh, who had been promoted to number four in the Canadian’s batting order, was the other undefeated batsman. His 21 not out included 2 fours.
Batting first after having won the toss, the Bermudians were restricted to their modest total by yet another outstanding Canadian bowling performance. Bermuda’s opening batsman Terryn Fray was run out for 0 off the very first ball of the innings by a smart piece of fielding by Romesh Eranga.
From that disastrous start the Bermudians never quite recovered losing wickets at regular intervals. Kamau Leverock 33 (34), Allan Douglas 31 (25) and Malachi Jones 21 (15) were the only Bermudian batsmen to reach double figures as they were bowled out for 116, losing their last wicket off the penultimate ball of the 20th over.
Bowling for Canada, Dillon Heyliger was again outstanding capturing 4-19 off his allocated four overs. He was well supported by Romesh Eranga 2-17 (3.5), Nitish Kumar 2-18 (4) and Nikhil Dutta 1-26 (4).
The win against Bermuda left the Canadians, who had already gained one of the two available qualification spots for the next round, unbeaten in the Tournament.