Series: Americas World Cup Qualifiers Sep 2021
Venue: Reforma Athletic Club, Naucalpan
Format: T20I
Toss: USA
Result: Canada by 7 runs
Tournament Wide Open After Canada Victory
A surprise victory to the Canadians has opened up the possibility of three different teams fighting for top spot. The tournament has one day left and the previously untouchable United States has opened the door for both Canada and Brazil.
Sindhu Sriharsha won the toss for the USA and chose to field. The USA was missing two of its gun bowlers in Tara Norris and Suhani Thadani to illness and it was patently evident as Divya Saxena (40) and Miryam Khokhar (27) put on a 65 run partnership for the first wicket. It was off spinner Akshatha Rao (2-22) who dismissed them both and the scoring did subside after that, Canada finishing with 85/4 from their 20 overs.
USA could not blame illness on their batting order. No-one missing, just misfiring. The top four were all back in the pavilion by the time the score was 31 and the innings never recovered. It wasn’t Canada’s pace bowlers who did the damage, but an inspiring spell from off-break bowler Hala Azmat (4-15). She gave the ball good flight and managed to extract turn.
Though still in it with an over to go the lower middle order of the US could not eclipse the Canadian target and fell short by 7 tuns. For her outstanding spell Hala Azmat was named Player of the Match.
The result of this match has thrown the tournament open with any one of three teams still in the chase. Only Argentina cannot win.
Scores:
Canada 85/4 (Divya Saxena 40, Miryam Khokhar 27, Akshatha Rao 2-22) 20 overs
USA 78/7 (Isani Vaghela 20, Hala Azmat 4-15) 20 overs
Player of the Match: Hala Azmat