Canada Suffers First Defeat in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 Against Netherlands

Canada faced its first defeat in five matches during the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2, falling to the Netherlands by five wickets on Sunday.

Canada posted a total of 194 all out in their innings, but the Dutch reached their target in the 46th over, finishing at 195 for five. New Zealand-born Max O'Dowd, whose mother is Dutch, led the Netherlands with an unbeaten 79, including eight fours in his 119-ball performance, earning him the Player of the Match award.

The Dutch batting lineup remained dominant until former Canadian captain Saad Bin Zafar, in his second bowling spell, claimed three late wickets. Canada’s newly appointed captain Nicholas Kirton remarked that their bowling wasn’t poor, noting that the Netherlands took over 40 overs to chase the runs, but he acknowledged that the team fell short with the bat. He added that while it wasn’t a bad performance, there were areas for improvement.

Wicketkeeper Shreyas Movva was the top scorer for Canada, contributing 65 runs from 90 balls, including six boundaries.

Canada had just arrived in the Netherlands on Friday, with several players recently participating in the Global T20 Canada tournament in Brampton, Ontario.

In the International Cricket Council’s one-day international rankings, the Netherlands (3-2) are ranked 14th, while Canada (4-1) holds the 15th spot.

Canada is set to face the 19th-ranked U.S. on Tuesday and August 19, with another match against the Netherlands scheduled for August 17. Earlier this year, the Canadian team secured victories against both the United Arab Emirates and Scotland in Dubai during February and March.

The Cricket World Cup League 2 includes teams from Namibia, Nepal, and Oman, with each of the eight teams playing 36 one-day internationals across nine triangular series until December 2026.

The top four teams from this league will advance to a 10-team World Cup Qualifier, where the final four spots for the 2027 World Cup will be decided.

Canada last participated in the World Cup in 2011, with previous appearances in 1997, 2003, and 2007. After being relegated to ICC World Cricket League Division Three in 2017, Canada has steadily climbed the ranks, earning promotion to League 2 in their quest to qualify for the 2027 World Cup. In April 2023, Canada regained its one-day international status for the first time in nearly a decade.

On Sunday, after winning the toss, Canada chose to bat first, eventually being bowled out for 194 with eight balls remaining in their 50-over allotment.

Harsh Thaker contributed 35 runs, while opener Dilpreet Bajwa added 25 and Bin Zafar chipped in with 22. Captain Nicholas Kirton was dismissed after just four balls for a single run.

Kyle Klein was the standout bowler for the Netherlands, taking four wickets for 33 runs.

Dutch openers Michael Levitt and Max O'Dowd put together a partnership of 77 runs before Levitt was caught out on 45, having hit eight fours from 50 deliveries. The Netherlands did not lose another wicket until Vikramjit Singh was caught for 29, leaving them at 155 for two.

The 2027 World Cup, slated for October-November, will feature 14 teams competing in 54 matches across South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Two of the host nations, South Africa and Zimbabwe, along with the top eight teams in the ICC’s one-day international rankings, will automatically qualify.

In addition to the four teams advancing from World Cup League 2, the World Cup Qualifier will include two lower-ranked full ICC members (excluding the hosts, South Africa and Zimbabwe) and the top four teams from a World Cup Qualifier Playoff.

Teams that finish in the bottom four of League 2 will have another opportunity to qualify by joining four teams from the Challenge League in the World Cup Qualifier Playoff.