Timbawala's 73* gives USA consolation win

Ravi Timbawala's composed half-century helped USA chase down Canada's 221 in the third and final Auty Cup match in Los Angeles. Timbawala struck an unbeaten 73, and the winning four, to seal a two-wicket win with three balls to spare. Canada had won the first two matches, and retained the Auty Cup as a result.

Timbawala arrived in the seventh over at 42 for 1, after Fahad Babar had flicked Dilon Heyliger to square leg on 23, and crawled along to 2 off his first 32 balls. It was only after the first drinks break that he picked up pace, using his feet against Nikhil Dutta and lofting him through mid-off, the first of three boundaries for him in consecutive overs through the same arc.

Timbawala added 63 for the third wicket with Alex Amsterdam, before Salman Nazar removed Amsterdam and Akeem Dodson. Timbawala carried on and crossed 50 in the 37th over, but found himself running out of partners. Farhan Malik bowled Nicholas Standford in the 38th over, sparking off a mini-collapse as USA lost three wickets in three overs for the addition of 11 runs. To further complicate matters, Timil Patel took on Shehan Kamileen's arm at cover, and was caught short by a direct hit to leave Canada two wickets away and USA needing 33 off 28 balls.

But USA kept their cool with Timbawala and Hammad Shahid - both added as replacements on the eve of the series - knocking off the remaining runs. Canada missed Cecil Pervez, who had been rested, at the death. Satsimranjit Dhindsa conceded two wides and a boundary in the 47th over to bring the equation down to 20 off 18, before Shahid carved a four through point in the 49th over to bring it down to a run a ball.

Canada squandered another chance, on the last ball of that over, when Shahid's connection on a full toss went awry and popped towards Malik, who spilled it at long-on. Timbawala then cut the third ball of the last over off Heyliger over backward point for his seventh four to clinch the win.

Earlier, after Canada opted to bat, Dutta top-scored for the second match in a row, with 72 off 111 balls. He was exceptional against legspinner Timil Patel, skipping down the track to loft him for three sixes, before hitting two more off Hutchinson in the slog overs. Dutta added 53 for the sixth wicket with Varun Sehdev, before a straight drive from Dutta was deflected by Elmore Hutchinson onto the stumps at the non-striker's end in the 43rd over.

With Dutta still going strong, Canada had looked set for at least 230 despite being 196 for 6 in the 45th over. However, Dutta perished after skewing a full toss from Hutchinson to cover. Two overs later, Shahid nabbed Hamza Tariq for 17 and Heyliger for 2 with a pair of slower balls. Amsterdam then wrapped up the innings by bowling Dhindsa with two balls remaining.

Although Shahid had the best returns among USA's bowlers with 2 for 36 in eight overs, left-arm spinner Danial Ahmed, who opened the bowling, was exceptional and finished with 1 for 26 in his 10 overs.

Canada will now travel to Bermuda, where they will play three 50-over contests, starting on Friday as Bermuda seek their own preparation for WCL Division Four. Most of USA's players will remain in Los Angeles over the next two weeks to continue training ahead of their first match of Division Four against Bermuda on October 29.