11 August, 2022
A career best, undefeated, century by Nicholas Kirton followed by an outstanding spell of off-spin bowling were the highlights of Canada’s massive 204 runs victory over Vanuatu on the penultimate Day 7 of the ICC 2023 World Cup Challenge League A Round 2 tournament being played at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club in King City Ontario. The win in its fifth and final match of the League’s second of three scheduled rounds, gave Canada a perfect 5-0 undefeated record for the tournament.
Canada’s eventual massive 204 run victory had hardly seemed possible within the first half hour of play, the start of which had been delayed by under-covers seepage from overnight King City rains that had left the pitch needing to be dried out. With the match reduced to a 38 overs per side encounter, Vanuatu’s captain, Andrew Mansale, had absolutely no hesitation in inviting his Canadian hosts to take first strike after winning the toss.
Mansale’s decision to give his opening bowlers first crack at the obviously still moisture full pitch, seemed to have paid dividends of the highest order. Even before the completion of the first hour of play, Canada had lost its first four wickets with only 34 runs on the scoreboard with eleven overs of the available 38 having been bowled.
By that time Canada had lost both of its openers, Rayyan Pathan (7) falling yet again for another single digit score, as well as their captain and triple centurion from within the competitions first two rounds, Skipper Navi Dhaliwal (10). Matthews Spoors was then given out caught behind by wicket-keeper Jamal Vira after the standing umpire Jermaine Lindo had initially indicated that the down legside headed delivery had missed the edge. Umpire Lindo, however, reversed his decision after his counterpart at square-leg, Emmerson Carrington, signaled to him that the edge had indeed been found.
Spoors’ controversial decision, his second in successive matches, was soon followed by that of wicket-keeper Shreyas Movva, lbw to seamer Apolinaire Stephen for 4. Which left the Canadian innings tottering at 34/4 at the start of the eleventh over (10.1).
A career high, well composed and undefeated century by Nicholas Kirton in partnership with the Salman Nazar’s half-century, however, rescued the Canadian innings from any further disasters. Kirton was at his elegant best, stroking an unbeaten 108 off just 95 balls. His stroke-filled century was punctuated by 5 massive sixes and 7 spanking fours. His driving, especially through the offside, was an absolute joy to behold.
Kirton was admirably supported by the ever-busy Nazar, whose 71 balls half-century (55*) was slightly less hectic including as it did only four boundaries. Upon reaching the coveted landmark, Nazar raised his head, helmet and bat to the heavens in an emotional salute to his beloved father who he had lost a few months ago. He was also visibly further overcome with his emotions at the moment.
Kirton and Nazar’s fourth-wicket partnership of 155 runs was ended by the latter having to retire hurt with his score on 55. Nazar’s departure, however brought Ravinderpal Singh to the crease.
The ever-aggressive Singh demonstrated his power-hitting capabilities to their fullest extent striking four colossal sixes and 2 fours in a belligerent 42 that required only 17 balls for its composition. Singh’s timely aggression catapulted the Canadian innings to an imposing 246/4 at its close at the end of the 38 allocated overs.
Vanuatu’s opening bowlers, Apolinaire Stephen 2/34-8 and Nalin Nipiko 2/19-5, were the only wicket-takers, having made effective use of the pitch’s available moisture. None of the other five bowlers used by skipper Mansale, however, were in any way threatening to the Canadian middle-order batsmen, as they all ended with economy rates of in excess of six runs per over.
Perhaps somewhat shell-shocked by the demonstrated belligerence of the Canadian middle-order batting, Vanuatu’s batsmen quickly found themselves floundering, initially in the face of the pacy Guyana-born Canadian seamers Dillon Heyliger and Jeremy Gordon, followed by the guiles of Canada’s spinners Rommel Shahzad and Saad Bin Zafar. Heyliger (2/12-4) made the initial breakthrough having opener Ronald Tari (8) caught smartly by Rommel Shahzad at second slip off the final ball of the sixth over and with the score on 24.
Once Tari had departed, the resistance offered by Vanuatu’s other batsmen proved to be extremely feeble as the remaining eight available wickets fell in the space of 12 overs for just 18 additional runs. Canada’s lanky off-spinner Rommel Shahzad, appearing in only his second match in National colors proved to be almost unplayable, capturing 4/8-4.3 overs. Saad Bin Zafar 2/2-5 was just as effective as the two Canadian spinners weaved webs around Vanuatu’s hapless batting. The Vanuatu innings closed at the fall of its ninth wicket as the injured Apolinaire Stephen was unable to bat.
The decisive win left Canada positioned at the top of the League’s overall standings with a near perfect record of 18 points from 9 wins and just one loss. Canada’s very healthy net run rate of 2.436 has also provided a major cushion over its rivals for the League’s third and final round of matches. Those will be played in Malaysia, this coming December and from which the winning team will then progress to the 2023 World Cup’s last qualification hurdle to be held in Zimbabwe around the middle of next year.
Summarized Scores:
Canada 246/4-38/38 ovrs. Nicholas Kirton108*, Salman Nazar 55*(Rt) Ravinderpal Singh 42*; Nalin Nipiko 2/19-5, Apolinaire Stephen 2/34-8.
Vanuatu 42/9 – 17.3 ovrs. Joshua Rasu 10. Rommel Shahzad 4/8-4.3. Saad Bin Zafar 2/2-4, Dillon Heyliger 2/12-4.
Canada won by 204 runs.
