SOMERSET, Bermuda, (CMC) – Middle-order batsman Harsh Thaker smashed a century as Canada booked their place in next year’s Under-19 World Cup finals by beating the United States by 37 runs on day five of the ICC Americas qualifying tournament here on Thursday.Number six Thaker’s 121 from 93 balls, which included 14 fours and five sixes, rescued Canada from a precarious 108 for five and steered them to 289 for eight – a total that proved out of the reach of the Americans, who lost to their neighbours by just one run earlier in the week, despite a century from number four Kushal Ganji.
Victory gave Canada their third successive victory of the tournament to ensure an automatic place in next year’s finals to be staged in Bangladesh in January and February.
The US and Bermuda, with one victory apiece, will now fight it out for second place which will earn the runners-up a second chance to get to the World Cup through another qualifier later this year at a venue to be announced.
Bermuda, who pipped the US by one wicket on Thursday, can clinch the runner’s-up spot if they beat Canada at St David’s in today’s final match.
Thaker featured in two pivotal stands for Canada, adding 80 for the sixth wicket with Sarbjot Singh Sivia (31) and 67 for the seventh with Miraj Patel (20).
Mohak Buch, the fifth bowler used, was the most successful for the US with three for 38 from seven overs.
Ganji, who struck 12 fours in his 128-ball 110, kept his side’s hopes alive with a fourth-wicket stand of 106 with Guaranshu Sharma (40), but Muhammad Khan sealed the victory by claiming three wickets in the last over over to finish with five for 53 from 10 overs.