USA continued their supremacy over arch rivals Canada for the second time in a row with a decisive 50-run triumph.
Just like in the previous match, Canada chose to field first against USA, but this strategy didn’t affect the overall result of the game. Smit Patel, showcasing top form once again after his last game against Canada, scored an elegant 70 off 84 balls with 11 boundaries. Following a disappointing performance against Netherlands, USA’s middle-order, led by Aaron Jones’s brisk half-century and Milind Kumar’s aggressive 47 off 33 balls, propelled USA to a commanding total of 275, a formidable score in associate level cricket.
As Canada’s fast bowlers failed to pick up a wicket during USA’s batting powerplay, USA captain Monank Patel boldly introduced left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige in the first over itself. This tactical move proved successful as Kenjige dismissed Aaron Johnson early on. Jasdeep Singh’s disciplined bowling also paid off as he took Dilpreet Bajwa’s wicket with a thin inside edge. Shadley Van Schalkwyk, criticized for his batting in the previous game, redeemed himself by taking two quick wickets, including that of Canada captain Nicholas Kirton and Harsh Thaker, leaving Canada struggling at 44 for 4.
Pargat Singh and Shreyas Movva attempted to revive Canada’s innings after the early setbacks. However, they could only manage 23 runs in the next 8 overs due to the flurry of wickets. Pargat, who had to curb his aggression, hit two boundaries off Kenjige to kickstart the recovery. This aggressive play inspired Movva, who was initially slow at 6 off 35 balls, to accelerate his scoring rate. Unfortunately, Pargat fell after his well-compiled half-century, which shifted momentum in favor of the USA team.
Despite a partnership of 106 runs, Canada faced an uphill task of 124 runs off 95 balls after Pargat’s dismissal. Movva played some attacking shots before falling prey to the mounting pressure, leading to the collapse of Canada’s chase. USA’s Shadley van Schalkwyk then returned to clean up the tail, finishing with exceptional figures of 4 for 20 in 8 overs, sealing the victory for USA.
The USA team laid a solid foundation earlier in the day with clinical batting performances. Openers Steven Taylor and Smit Patel forged a crucial 125-run partnership to dismantle the Canadian bowling attack. While Taylor cautiously scored 46 off 77 balls, Smit displayed his dominance from the outset, driving the bowlers to the fence multiple times with precise shots.
Smit maintained his momentum by showcasing a wide range of strokes, controlling the game’s tempo. However, their stand was broken by Saad Bin Zafar, who dismissed both Taylor and Smit in quick succession.
Aaron Jones played an uncharacteristic innings, scoring quickly with aggressive strokes. Monank Patel’s innings came to an end when he was bowled, attempting to play a big shot.
Milind, fresh off his maiden international half-century, continued his good form by milking runs alongside Joshi, who struggled to contain the flow of runs. Jones departed after scoring his 11th ODI half-century, leading the way for USA’s batters to post a challenging total.
Match Summary: USA 275/8 in 50 overs (Smit Patel 70, Aaron Jones 50; Saad Bin Zafar 3-30, Kaleem Sana 2-39) defeated Canada 225 all out in 47 overs (Pargat Singh 72, Shreyas Movva 68; Shadley van Schalkwyk 4-20) by 50 runs.
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