Canada has earned a coveted spot at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in a thrilling comeback story, overcoming an early setback and navigating the challenges posed by Tropical Storm Philippe during the Americas regional final in Bermuda.
After suffering an unexpected 86-run defeat to Bermuda on the opening day of the tournament, Saad Bin Zafar’s team worked diligently to improve their net run rate, setting the stage for a crucial rematch with the hosts on the final day.
Despite the morning’s delay due to the storm, the outfield eventually dried, and the decisive match was reduced to 18 overs a side. Winning the toss and opting to bat, Canada posted a total of 132/4, largely thanks to Navneet Dhaliwal’s impressive 38-ball 45.
In the bowling department, Nikhil Dutta’s off-spin proved pivotal as he dismissed Kamau Leverock (23) and Delray Rawlins (1) in a single over during Bermuda’s chase.
Bermuda, once at 52/1, stumbled to 55/3 after the twin blows and struggled to recover. Saad’s left-arm orthodox spin also accounted for Terryn Fray (30) soon after.
Kaleem Sana, the new-ball bowler, returned to wrap up the tail, finishing with figures of 3/4 in 3.5 overs, while fast bowler Jeremy Gordon contributed with 3/6 (2).
This historic victory marks Canada’s maiden appearance at the Men’s T20 World Cup, a significant achievement for the nation with past global tournament experience in the 50-over Cricket World Cup, where they first participated in 1979 and subsequently qualified for the 2003, 2007, and 2011 editions.
In the fiercely competitive Americas qualifying event for the T20 World Cup, a total of six teams vied for the coveted spots, with Argentina and Bahamas initially engaging in sub-regional battles in February of this year.
Progressing from the sub-regional stage, Cayman Islands and Panama secured the third and fourth positions, respectively, in the regional final.
As co-hosts of the forthcoming tournament, the USA had an automatic entry and will serve as the stage for matches in three different locations during the event.
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