Draw puts Canada in semi-finals

Canada 250 for 9 dec and 250 for 4 dec (Dhillon 102*, Davison 78) drew with Bermuda 107 and 221 for 9 (Smith 53, Sandher 6-68)
Scorecard

Canada narrowly failed to secure an outright win in their league match against Bermuda in Toronto, but a draw was still enough to win them a semi-final berth in the ICC Intercontinental Cup. Resuming their second innings on 91 for 2, Canada stretched their total to 250 for 4 before declaring, setting Bermuda an improbable victory target of 394. A more achievable goal for them was to bat out the rest of the day and achieve a draw, which they just about managed to do, scoring 221 for 9.

Canada's second-innings total was largely the result of Haninder Dhillon's unbeaten 102 and John Davison's 78. Davison spanked his runs off just 87 balls, hitting seven fours and four sixes. He was finally dismissed by Dwayne Leverock, but Dhillon continued the run-glut, adding 110 for the fourth wicket with Ashish Bagai, who contributed 31. Leverock finally ended the stand when he caught Bagai off his own bowling (239 for 4). Dhillon, meanwhile, went on to complete his hundred off 138 balls, and the declaration came soon after.

With 15 points already in the bag from the match, Canada needed only two more to go past USA and secure a place in the semi-finals of the competition. They did that when Bermuda's fourth wicket fell, at 83. Clay Smith held the batting together with his 63, as Bermuda put up a much-improved performance in the second innings. Kevin Sandher, a left-arm spinner, ran through the lower order, finishing with 6 for 68, but the last-wicket pair of Jekon Edness and Kevin Hurdle offered stubborn resistance, and were undefeated at the close to ensure a draw.

Canada join Scotland, the top team from Europe, in the semi-final stage of the competition. One team each from Asia and Africa will join them for that leg, which will be held in Sharjah in November.