Canada crowned Americas Cricket champs

Canada 298 (Surkari 52, Bovell 4-57) beat Cayman Islands 231 for 9 (Patel 4-50) by 67 runs
Scorecard

Canada were crowned champions of the Americas when they overcame Cayman Islands by 67 runs at Somerset Cricket Club, Bermuda. The win, their fifth in five games in the tournament, left the Canadians four points clear of the United States, who got past Bermuda and thus claimed second place ahead of the host nation.

Canada regained the trophy they first won in 2000 in Toronto at the inaugural Americas Cricket Championships, before relinquishing the title to the USA in Buenos Aires in 2002.

They faced a stiff hurdle in their final game, as Cayman Islands had shown throughout the tournament that they were a side to be reckoned with. Canada knew that only a win was good enough, as a loss would have left them tied with the winner of the USA-Bermuda game, and the outcome of the championship would then have been decided on net run-rate. Added to that, the USA had started the final day with a better run-rate than that of Canada.

After being put in to bat, Canada powered to a formidable total of 298 in 47 overs, the highest score of the tournament. One half-century, from Zubin Surkari (52), the eventual Man-of-the-Match, and a number of solid contributions from the batsmen - including Desmond Chumney (46), John Davison (41), Ian Billcliff (47) and Don Maxwell (31) - got them to the massive score.

In fact, their score looked likely to be even larger at one point, when they stood at 223 for 3, with 15 overs still be bowled. But the Cayman Islands fought back through their bowling and fielding to restrict the Canadians in the final overs. Ryan Bovell, the captain, led from the front with 4 for 57, while Lawrence Cunningham (2 for 50) and Saheed Mohamed (2 for 41) also played their part with the ball.

The Cayman's response could not have started in more disastrous fashion, as they were reduce to 6 for 3 within four overs. The early burst from Austin Codrington (1 for 10) and Ashish Patel (4 for 50) effectively ended the contest, and virtually then and there placed the title in Canadian hands.

The Cayman batsmen produced another sterling display, as they have done throughout the tournament, to fight back with a series of partnerships that eventually took them to 231 for 9 in their allotted 50 overs. Mohamed (49), Franklin Hinds (48) and captain Ryan Bovell (35) led the way in the middle and lower order. Opening bowler Ashish Patel continued his good wicket-taking form with figures of 4 for 50 in his 10 overs.

Bermuda 155 (N Javed 4-45) lost to USA 156 for 5 by 5 wickets
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The United States completed a hard-fought five-wicket victory over Bermuda at the National Sports Centre to finish second at the Americas Cricket Championships. The loss left Bermuda in third place.

Put in to bat, Bermuda got off to a poor start, losing their first two wickets for only five runs. Then Clay Smith (44) and Delyone Borden (42) steered the hosts out of trouble and into a relatively sound position with a third-wicket partnership of exactly 100. But when the two were seperated, it heralded a slide, with 8 wickets falling for a mere 50 runs, and they were bundled out for 155.

Fine bowling by Charles Reid (3 for 32) and Nasir Javed (4 for 45) highlighted the USA effort in the field. Bermuda fought back, though, and soon had United States in tatters at 68 for 5. Bit it was Charles Reid's day, and in a matchwinning partnership with Clayton Lambert, in a stand worth 88 runs they steered USA to a deserved victory. Both players finished undefeated, Reid with 43 and Lambert with 42.

Bahamas 194 for 9 lost to Argentina 195 for 6 by 4 wickets
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Argentina triumphed in the battle for second-last spot as they overcame Bahamas by four wickets, and recorded their win tournament win.

Bahamas innings never really got going, despite solid performances from Lester Taylor (33), Dwight Weakley (39) and Venris Bennett (36). Despite being well-placed at 75 for 1 at one stage, the Bahamian batsmen could not put meaningful partnerships together as the determined Argentine bowling and fielding kept up the pressure. Bahamas finally made 194 for 9 in 43.2 overs (Seeram retired hurt).

Billy MacDermott took 3 for 40, while Hernan Pereyra weighed in with 2 for 30 in his 10 overs, and Matias Paterlini, 2 for 36.

Argentina's run-chase got off to a great start with a 54-run opening stand between Gaston Arizaga (24) and Matias Paterlini (40). Pablo Ferguson chipped in with 23, but with some cheap wickets falling, suddenly Argentina were 124 for 5 and staring at an uphill climb.

But Donny Forrester (30 not out) held the challenge together, and with a brisk innings from Malcolm Van Steeden (27), Argentina got home with 10 balls to spare.