Cayman crush dismal Canada

Steve Gordon Man of the Match Cayman vs Canada © ICC

The Americas Championship in Toronto, Canada was turned upside down by the shock defeat of defending champions Canada to the Cayman Islands. It was not merely the defeat of the regional giants against the Caribbean islanders, it was the manner of the comprehensive defeat that was most surprising - a comprehensive 8 wicket thrashing.

Canada were put in to bat, and having survived early Cayman pressure, crashed from 26 without loss to 32 for 4, with three of their top order back in the pavilion without scoring. Young 22-year old paceman Troy Taylor was destroyer in chief, taking 3 of the first 4 wickets to fall and finishing with 4 for 19 in 8,3 overs.

The baton was picked up by first change seamer Ronald Ebanks, and with his bowling performance of 4 for 43 in 10, and after 23 overs Canada were reeling at 94 for 8.

It was only thanks to a ninth wicket 93 run partnership between George Codrington and Steve Welsh that Canada managed to reach a final total of 187 all out in the 44th over. The experienced Codrington crafted a fine 73 not out, off 103 balls, including 9 fours and a six. He was ably partnered by Welsh, who made 29. To further add to a bleak day for Canada, Codrington's further participation in the tournament is in jeopardy after sustaining a serious finger injury while batting.

In reply, the Cayman Islands got off to a solid start against an ineffective Canadian attack, easing to 55 before losing their first wicket. There was a brief stutter as the second Cayman wicket fell two runs later, but after that it was all one way traffic as opening bat and man of the match, Steve Gordon, and Pearson Best put together an undefeated third wicket partnership of 137 to take the Cayman Islands to a historic and emphatic victory in the 43rd over.

Gordon ended undefeated on 70, in 114 balls, with 8 fours, and Best was not out 67, with 8 fours and 3 sixes, in 97 balls.

Canada have now lost their first two games in this championship and languish at the bottom of the table, with their chances of defending their crown on home soil all but extinguished. They will now look to their Friday encounter with Argentina to hopefully end a barren run of seven international one-days games without a victory.

Meanwhile, for the Cayman Islands, this win was a superb response to their first day defeat against the USA, and certainly keeps them in the hunt for the title.

At the end of the day, and understandably delighted Cayman coach, Theo Cuffy, said of the victory: "It is an extremely satisfying feeling. The continued development of our Cayman Islands cricket program depends on the senior teams success. After four years as an Associate country, with a population of only 52,000 people, we are proud of our achievement."