After rain threatened to play spoilsport early in the day, Canada was left crying in the end as Malaysia pulled off a shock three-wicket win with one ball to spare in the final of the one-day tri-series that also featured hosts Hong Kong.
Malaysia won the toss. They elected to bowl first in good batting conditions. The match was reduced to 34 overs and with the threat of further rain, the chase was always going to be an advantage. And it proved to be until the very end.
Canada posted an impressive 243/8 from their allotted 34 overs, thanks to half-centuries from Nicholas Kirton, Dilpreet Bajwa and Shreyas Movva. However, they were unable to put the finishing touches to their total with the ball as Malaysia cruised home with one ball to spare.
Overall, this tour has been a good preparation for what's next in Nepal and has highlighted some areas of need for the future.
Playing XI:
Aaron Johnson, Yuvraj Samra, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Ajayveer Hundal, Dilpreet Bajwa, Shreyas Movva, Dillon Heyliger, Saad Bin Zafar, Udaybir Walia, Uday Bhagwan.
KIRTON SHAKE OFF THE RUST EARLY, THEN SHINE LATER
Aaron Johnson signalled Canada's intentions early, taking Muhammad Wafiq to the cleaners in the second over of the innings for 22 to set the batting on its way. However, he fell for 18 off 9. This brought together the two centurions from the win over Hong Kong. The pair were restricted to just a dozen runs in total this time, with Nicholas Kirton at 30/2 in his first match of the tour.
Kirton could have been back in the pavilion off the second ball he faced, having edged a clever leg-cutter, but the man at second slip wasted the chance of a catch on the dive. After an assured back-foot shot through the off-side and a fine lofted flick for a couple of boundaries suggested he was finding his way, Kirton failed to read a slower ball and was down for the count when the ball struck him in the middle.
Having been treated, Kirton seemed to flow and a brilliant lofted drive over deep cover showed he was finding his best. Kirton's 52 off 51 was ultimately crucial as Canada rebuilt a platform after losing some early wickets. He was a little unlucky to get out when he did as he looked to go over the cow corner against an orthodox left-armer who turned one into him, only for a diving catch at deep midwicket by Virandeep Singh to spoil those plans.
AJWA PLAYS IT SAFE BEFORE HE THROWS CAUTION TO THE WIND
Playing his first match of the tour too, Dilpreet Bajwa took his time early on, showing plenty of respect for the bowlers with 10 runs off his first 26 balls. Once he was settled, Bajwa took to the Malaysian spinners and made up for lost time, scoring 51 runs off his next 35 balls.
Relying consistently on short-arm jabs, the vast majority of Bajwa's runs came in front of the wicket, with the exceptions coming off either a sweep or reverse sweep. With Canada on a comfortable 199/5, Bajwa holed out in the 30th over.
It's a credit to both Kirton and Bajwa to have come into a match with the pressure of a final, not having played a match on tour - let alone indoors for the past three months - and put together crucial runs for the team.
GOOD FORM CONTINUES FOR MOVVA
Shreyas Movva followed up a thrilling 54 off 35 in the previous match against Hong Kong with 52 off 35 in the final.
Moving in and out of his crease as much as he had in the previous match, Movva added to his claim as Canada's most inventive batsman with a switch-hit for four in the 32nd over. The Canadian wicketkeeper also had a pull off a fast bowler that went well behind the wicket for a six that would have put a smile on Suryakumar Yadav's face.
Resuming on 124/5 after 23.1 overs and with the well-set Kirton heading back to the pavilion, Movva's 75-run 41-ball partnership was instrumental in Canada eventually surpassing 240 in 34 overs. Coach Pubudu Dassanayake must have been delighted with Movva's contribution to the innings as another 44 runs came from the last four overs.
FIERY BHAGWAN LEADS THE BOWLING CHARGE
One thing is for sure, backing down will not be an option for Uday Bhagwan. He's got the typical mean streak that you love to see in a fast bowler and at 6ft 2in, he generates a healthy bounce off the pitch to keep the batsmen on their toes.
Bhagwan seemed to set the tone early for Canada when he had opener Syed Aziz caught behind, leaving Malaysia at 22/2 after 3.5 overs. Sharvin Muniandy's run-a-ball 70 and Ahmad Faiz's 67 off 55 put on an excellent stand of 131, but after Bin Zafar provided the first breakthrough by dismissing Faiz, it was Bhagwan who returned to the attack to take another wicket and put Canada back in control.
Bhagwan claimed a fourth wicket in the 30th over and although the match did not go in his side's favour, he can take much confidence from a top bowling performance in batting-friendly conditions.
LACK OF BOWLING DEPTH PROVES TO BE COSTLY
It was clear that Canada had opted for extra batting depth in this rain-shortened match when Bin Zafar came in at No 10. The lack of bowling depth came back to haunt them at the very end.
With Zubaidi Zulfikle struggling to get going and Vijay Unni the new opener at the crease, Malaysia were 195/6. At this stage, 49 runs were required from the final four overs, with Canada slightly in trouble, and Dillon Heyliger helped Canada's chances with a quality over, peppering the ball just short of length and outside off stump, conceding just four runs. The equation was now 45 for 18.
Malaysia completely turned the match around with 28 runs off the next nine balls after Ajayveer Hundal conceded just four runs off the first three balls of the 32nd over. Top edges for six, inside edges beating the keeper for four, and a few extras thrown in for good measure.
Bhagwan had 13 to defend in the final over, an increasingly difficult task for bowling in this day of modern batting. The writing was on the wall for Canada with a first ball longhop sent back over long-on. After 20.5 overs from Heyliger, Bhagwan, and Bin Zafar, Canada went wicketless in the remaining 13 overs at a cost of 121 runs. The extras will also be something to rue, as 19 of the 26 conceded were wides, while Malaysia only conceded 10 extras in total.
You always want to win as much as you can, but for the younger players in particular to have this kind of experience to learn from could prove to be invaluable in the long run.