3 October, 2023
Canada Mauls Panama With Massive 163run victory!
By Tony McWatt
Canada maintained its unblemished record of T20 victories against Panama, securing a massive 163run mauling when the two countries met in third round action at the Bermuda-hosted ICC 2024 T20 World Cup Americas Qualifier. Batting first the Canadians posted a monumental 230/4 off its twenty overs. In response Panama were bundled out for 67 off eighteen overs to give the Canadians victory by 163 runs.
The Canadian’s formidable 230/4 first-strike total was built on the foundation of Aaron Johnson’s second T20 century. The Jamaican-born opener struck eleven sumptuous sixes and six fours enroute to his 59run century. His century also took him past 500 T20 runs in just 10 innings, reportedly making him the fastest ever to reach that landmark in the format’s history.
Johnson’s innings was a tale of two parts. After initially struggling to reach only 18 off his first twenty-one balls faced, he raced to his first fifty by scoring 37 off the next twenty-eight deliveries. A passing rain shower which disrupted play for approximately half an hour appeared to be the catalyst for Johnson’s transformation from his initial pedestrian scoring to ultimate aggression.
Johnson and Navneet Dhaliwal had added 38 for the first wicket before the latter, having scored 21, was caught at extra cover off the second ball of the sixth over. Pargat Singh’s miserable tournament then continued as he was stumped for 3, to leave the Canadians on 45/2-6.4.
Johnson and Harsh Thaker added 122 in partnership for the third wicket. Thaker after striking his only six off the first ball of the 17th over was adjudged lbw on the next. He departed for 30 made from 26 deliveries to leave the Canadian’s score at 157/3.
Dillon Heyliger elevated to number five in the batting order justified his promotion with a quickfire 30 made from just ten deliveries and including four sixes. Two of which were struck in succession of the last two balls of the nineteenth over.
Entering the fray in the final over, Nicholas Kirton struck a six off the very last ball of the innings to conclude the Canadians ultra-impressive batting effort at 230/4-20. Johnson was left not out on 121 made from 59 balls.
231 required for victory, at an initially required run rate of 11.55 runs per over, was always going to be an improbable task for the Panamanians who had never before reached even forty in any of their previous matches against Canada. They eventually got to 67 all out off 18, but were always struggling against Canada’s relentlessly accurate bowling.
Kaleem Sana inevitably started the Panamanian destruction with his eight tournament scalp, Laxman Gaonkar caught behind by Srimanthe Wijeyeratne for 5 in the very first over. Jeremy Gordon’s pace then proved to be too much for Mohmad Patel who was clean bowled off the first ball of the second over.
6/2 quickly became 6/3 when Gordon struck again with the last ball of his first over. Mahmud Jasat was well caught at short-leg by Canadian captain Saad Bin Zafar who had positioned himself there immediately before Gordon’s express pace delivery.
Zafar then introduced himself to the attack at the beginning of the sixth and struck immediately with double blows off his first two balls to leave Panama reeling at 21/5 – 5.2. First he had Yusuf Akalwaya caught by Sana for 4 then struck again immediately to trap Faizan Patel plumb in front to be lbw without scoring. There was some measure of resistance from Nikunj Ahir who scored 17 in taking the score to 44 before becoming the sixth wicket to fall and Nikhil Dutta’s first victim.
Sana returned to claim his second wicket of the innings and eight for the tournament as Panama’s response was further reduced to 45/7. Harsh Thaker then wrapped up the innings with three wickets in his, one in his third over and two from his fourth as the innings folded for 67 to leave the Canadians victorious by 163 runs. A victory margin that left them at second place in the points table with a positive net run rate and within striking distance of tournament leaders hosts Bermuda.
Summarized Scores:
Canada 230/4-20 Overs. A Johnson 121* H Thaker 36, D Heyliger 30.
Panama 67/10-17.5 Overs. A Ahir 24. H Thaker 3/13-3.5, J Gordon 2/5-3, K Sana 2/18-4, S Zafar 2/18-4.
Canada won by 163 runs.
