Ravi Timbawala leads his team to stunning victory
USA and Bermuda scored easy victories on the opening day of the Americas U19 Championships in Toronto
11-Aug-2005
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Defending champions Canada were on the receiving end of a surprise first-day defeat at the hands of the USA on the opening day of the Americas U19 Championships in Toronto. The host nation, winner of both previous U19 Championships in 2001 and 2003 respectively, were beaten by a committed United States outfit by 39 runs.
After being put in to bat, the USA scored consistently to set themselves up with a good total, thanks largely to second and third wicket partnerships of 47 and 83 respectively. Opening bat Ravi Timbawala, later named Man of the Match, put together an excellent innings of 67 in 94 balls, and his partnerships with Akeem Dodson (23 in 40 balls) and Hemant Punoo (32 in 56 balls) put the US side in a commanding position at 148 for 2 after 25 overs.
Accurate bowling from Krunal Patel (3 for 44 in 10 overs) and Trevin Bastiampillai (2 for 38 in 10 overs) brought Canada back into the frame, but a 51-run sixth-wicket partnership between Ramsabad Kumar (42 in 73 balls) and Danai Nathanial (22 in 32 balls) eventually guided USA to 246 all out in 50 overs.
In reply, Canada were pegged back by some consistent bowling and tigerish fielding, and in contrast to the USA innings, simply could not put any meaningful partnerships together, being reduced to 100 for 5 after 20 overs. It was left to middle-order batsmen Gunjan Patel (28 in 73 balls) and Waqas Junaid (37 in 60 balls) to try and mount a real challenge, but eventually 207 all out in 46.1 overs was as far as the Canadians could go.
Excellent bowling from Usman Mohammad (2 for 49 in 10 overs) and Anil Deopersaud (3 for 44 in 10 overs) were the best of a fine all-round team effort.
Bermuda beat Argentina by nine wickets
Argentina elected to bat first, but apart from a determined innings of 30 by Pedro Bruno, no other batsmen really mastered the Bermudan attack, and they were bowled out for 92 in just 26.5 overs. Man of the Match Stefan Kelly ended with fine figures of 4 for 22 in 9,5 overs. Bermuda made light work of their target, romping home in the 16th over, led by 49 from skipper Oronde Bascome.
Argentina elected to bat first, but apart from a determined innings of 30 by Pedro Bruno, no other batsmen really mastered the Bermudan attack, and they were bowled out for 92 in just 26.5 overs. Man of the Match Stefan Kelly ended with fine figures of 4 for 22 in 9,5 overs. Bermuda made light work of their target, romping home in the 16th over, led by 49 from skipper Oronde Bascome.