Hansra guides Canada to victory

Canada won the Auty Cup with a 34-run victory over USA in Toronto, but the visitors battled back after a poor opening day to ensure the game remained competitive, even if the seemingly narrow winning margin was slightly deceptive.

In a bid to prevent negative play in the two-day match, it was agreed the first innings would be limited to 45 overs a side and the second to 40 overs. The result of this was that Canada's first-innings lead of 73 meant that barring a second-day collapse, they were always likely to be able to post too many runs for the USA to chase.

Canada's second innings proved as tough for the USA's bowlers as had their first. Hiral Patel again set about the attack, slamming 80 off 84 deliveries, and although he lost three partners cheaply - at one point Canada were 39 for 3 - he found support from captain Jimmy Hansra and the pair added 90 for the fourth wicket. When Patel went, Hansra took charge and laid into the tiring bowlers, making exactly 100 from 89 balls including six sixes.

Set 305 to win, few expected USA to get near the target, but their top order gave them a platform from which they had an outside chance. At 131 for 3 they were going well, but Hansa took two wickets in as many balls, and within two overs USA were 131 for 6 and out of contention. Jignesh Desai gave the scoreline respectability with a belligerent 45-ball 62 but it was never enough to seriously threaten an upset.