The Voorburg Cricket Club Stadium in The Hague became the centre of attention as it hosted a much-anticipated ICC Men’s Cricket League match between the USA and Canada. Fans eagerly awaited an exciting contest, expecting impressive displays of both batting and bowling. In their previous match, the Netherlands had defeated Canada by five wickets, and Canada was hoping to bounce back with a win against the USA. Given the recent performances of both teams, a thrilling encounter was on the cards.
Canada, known for its strong bowling attack, chose to bowl first after winning the toss. The USA set an imposing target, scoring 304 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in their allotted 50 overs. Leading the charge, USA captain Monank Patel played a remarkable innings, smashing 121 runs off just 95 balls, including seven fours and five sixes. He was well-supported by Smit Patel, who contributed a crucial 63 off 83 balls, with five boundaries and a six.
On the bowling side, Saad Bin Zafar from the USA took 1 wicket for 35 runs in his 10 overs, while Pargat Singh and Dillion Heyliger also picked up a wicket each. Canada’s captain, Nichola Kirton, tried to anchor his team’s innings with 14 runs off 17 balls. Shayan Jahangir’s quick-fire 57 off 47 balls, featuring five boundaries, helped the USA surpass the 300-run mark.
In response, Canada put up a valiant effort, scoring 290 for the loss of nine wickets. Aaron Johnson contributed 55 off 41 balls, Harsh Thaker added a solid 77 off 77 balls, and Heyliger chipped in with 56 off 65 balls. Despite their best efforts, Canada fell short by 14 runs. Nosthush Kenjige was Canada’s standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 37 runs in his 10 overs, while Jasdeep Singh took 2 wickets for 52 runs.
Monank Patel was named Player of the Match for his outstanding 121-run innings, which played a crucial role in securing the USA’s victory over Canada by 14 runs. This win earned the USA two valuable points in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League 2.