ONTARIO, Canada, (CMC) – West Indies pulled off a dramatic one-wicket win over the USA when the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-60, 45-over World Cup continued over the weekend here on Friday.
After limiting the USA to 168 for nine in their 45 overs, the Windies got home by the smallest of margins, finishing on 169 for nine in 44.1 overs.
After choosing to bat first, the USA were led by Parak Ananta’s unbeaten 53 off 58 balls, with his knock resuscitating their innings after they were precariously placed at 89 for five in the 26th over.
Opener Mahmood Shahid contributed a run-a-ball 29, while Chandrakant Barlingay chipped in with a patient 25 off 54 balls.
Zamin Amim was the West Indies’ best bowler with 3-27 and Deonarine Deyal took 2-21.
The West Indies then got some useful contributions from the top order that saw them progress to 70 for two in the 20th over.
However, David Martil (3-18) and Ahmed Merchant (3-31) orchestrated a batting collapse that saw the Windies crumble to 134 for eight in the 39th over.
It took the efforts of Narine Bidhesi, who scored a crucial 56 off 85 balls to get them close to their total, but they West Indies still needed unbeaten knocks of 18 from Steve Linton and 13 from last man Rajendra Dilraj to get them over the line.