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USA fail to make the 2013 World T20 Qualifier

USA failed to clinch a spot in the 2013 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier as they finished second to Canada in the ICC Americas Women's Twenty20 Championship

File photo: USA finished behind Canada in last week's ICC Americas Women's Twenty20 Championship  •  ICC/Mainoor Islam Manik

File photo: USA finished behind Canada in last week's ICC Americas Women's Twenty20 Championship  •  ICC/Mainoor Islam Manik

Four wins from four matches was not enough for USA to clinch a spot in the 2013 ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier as the team finished second to Canada in last week's ICC Americas Women's Twenty20 Championship in the Cayman Islands.
Both USA and Canada had 4-0 records but their scheduled showdown on the last day of the round-robin event never happened after rain forced play to be abandoned. As a result, Canada's superior net run rate meant they were crowned the tournament champion. Meanwhile, Brazil was relegated to ICC Americas Women's Division Two after finishing in last place.
Three players in the USA squad won awards for their performance, with opener Nadia Gruny being named Player of the Tournament after scoring 128 at an average of 32 and also taking two wickets. Gruny top scored for USA in wins over Argentina, Bermuda and Cayman Islands, while the winner of the best wicketkeeper award, Melissa Sandy, led USA with a half-century against Brazil.
Offspinner Samantha Ramautar was named best bowler after claiming eight wickets at an average of 3.13 and an economy rate of 1.67 in 15 overs. Canada's Durriya Shabbir prevented a clean sweep of the awards by USA by winning the best batsman award after scoring 153 runs at an average of 51.
The next ICC Americas Women's Division One tournament won't be held until 2014, meaning that the team might go two years without any international competition to build off the experience gained in this tournament.

Peter Della Penna is a journalist based in New Jersey