ST David’s, Bermuda (CMC) – Unbeaten Canada destroyed Bermuda’s faint hopes of reaching next year’s Under-19 World Cup finals in Bangladesh, crushing the hosts by 90 runs on the final day of the ICC Americas qualifying tournament here on Saturday.Bermuda’s tail wagged to give their total an air of respectability after they crumbled to 32 for seven, eventually being dismissed for 112 in the 37th over in reply to Canada’s 202 on a breezy, overcast day marked by occasional rain.
Victory – underpinned by half-centuries from in-form Harsh Thaker and Thursaanth Anantharajah – gave Canada their fourth victory of the week, leaving hosts Bermuda third below the United States by virtue of an inferior net run rate.
Bermuda and the U.S. traded victories – the U.S. winning the opener by 136 runs and losing the second fixture by one wicket – as they managed only one win apiece. Suriname were due to be the fourth team in the tournament but pulled out because of visa problems.
Canada had already booked their tickets to Bangladesh ahead of Saturday’s game. Bermuda’s defeat meant the U.S., as runners-up, have a second chance to get to the World Cup through another qualifier later this year at a venue to be announced.
Bermuda made early inroads as Canada slipped to 48 for three, but number five Thaker followed up his 121 against the U.S. on Friday at Somerset with eight fours in his 67 from 69 balls, adding 68 for the fourth wicket with opener Anantharajah, who struck six fours in his 102-ball knock of 58.
Thaker was sixth out at 181 in the 45th over.
Sarbjot Singh Sivia chipped in with 26 from 25 balls as Canada were dismissed in the final over for their lowest total of the week – but a daunting one for Bermuda to chase – after rain held up play late in their innings.
Opening bowler Micah Simons returned to take three late wickets – including Thaker’s – and finish with impressive figures of four for 21 from 10 overs, while Chare Smith, Charles Trott and skipper Delray Rawlins took two wickets apiece.
Bermuda’s reply quickly turned into a procession as they lost half their wickets inside 16 overs before Jordan Smith (25) and Shakeal Outerbridge (26) added 41 runs for the eighth wicket and number 10 Chare Smith helped raise the 100 with 21.
Second-change Abdul Haseeb was Canada’s most successful bowler with three for 20 from seven overs, Thaker ending the innings with two for two from 5.2 overs after Muhammad Khan had claimed two for 18 from six.