By Frederick Halley
CANADA created a major upset, inflicting a 55-run victory over the previously undefeated Australia when the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40 World Cup continued at various venues around Guyana yesterday.
Also in winners’ row were defending champions South Africa who handed West Indies their second defeat at the Guyana National Stadium in a close encounter, England who won from Scotland at the Albion Sports Complex to record their third straight victory and New Zealand who defeated USA at the Police Sports Club ground.
There were also wins for India from Rest of the Caribbean (ROC) at Bourda and Rest of the World (ROW) against Wales at Lusignan,
Canada’s victory at the Enmore Community Centre was engineered by a brilliant all-round performance from Guyana-born all-rounder Royston Crandon who followed up his 63 against defending champions South Africa, albeit in a losing cause on Saturday’s opening day.
Crandon, who is also a Canadian Citizen, blasted an undefeated 115 as Canada rallied from a precarious position of 104 for eight in the 32nd over to reach 208 for the same eight, a total which proved a winning one in the end.
The Aussies in reply, huffed and puffed their way to 153 all out in 35.2 overs, sparking wild celebrations in the Canadian Camp.
Stephen Spoljaric offered token resistance with a stubborn 45 (two fours and a six) as former West Indies Test player, Shane Shillingford captured three for 35 in 8.2 overs while Crandon, who represented the West Indies in a solitary One-day game, crowned a fine all-round performance with two for 11 from five overs, skipper Shailesh Patel two for 23 from six and Nitish Gosain two for 28 from seven.
Earlier, Canada were reeling at 104 for eight before Crandon and his captain Patel performed a rescue act, the former, who smashed six fours and nine sixes, dominating an undefeated 104-run ninth-wicket stand which seemed to have taken the sting out of the Aussies. Steven Paulsen claimed three for 46.
South Africa held their nerves to record a nail biting one-wicket victory over the West Indies, reaching 272 for nine with one over to spare in response to the challenging 269 for nine made by the Windies in their 45 overs.
A blistering undefeated 64 from 29 balls from lower-order batter Ryan Reeves, which included eight fours and three sixes, put paid to West Indies hopes after they threatened to derail the defending champions. Brendon Reddy with 52 (two fours and a six) and Reinhardt Strydom (43) gave valuable support as Imran Khan claimed three for 52, Trevor Benn two for 63 and Devendra Bishoo two for 70.
Earlier, West Indies were indebted to opener Randy Thomas who stroked 78 (12 fours) and Narsingh Deonarine 47 not out.
England continued their winning ways with a crushing eight-wicket win over Scotland at the Abion Sports Complex ground in Berbice.
Set a meagre 107 for victory, after dismissing their European neighbours for 106 in 31.1 overs, the Englishmen cruised to victory in 17.1 overs with Jaden Levitt unbeaten on 49 which contained five fours and two sixes.
Led by an attacking unbeaten 96 from 69 balls from Steven Hobson, which was spiced with 10 fours and three sixes and 70 (five fours and six sixes from Dewald Strydom, New Zealand reached the challenging target of 262 set by the USA, achieving the target in 36.5 overs.
USA were led to 261 for eight through half-centuries from Petson Matthews (56), Suhindra Shetty (54) and Prasanna Ramswammy (53).
India made light work of the ROC, amassing 329 for six in their allotted 45 overs before bowling out their opponents for 149 in 40.2 overs.
For India Shalabh Shrivasta slammed 69, opener Amit Paul 60, Sudheesh Thulaseedharan 59 and Mutaza Ali a quick-fire 58 off a mere 19 balls (six fours and four sixes).
Opener Asif Chan hit 49 for ROC as Amit Paul claimed three for 27 while there were two wickets each for Jigar Mehta, Amit Mishra and Pawan Anand.
ROW, who were thrashed on Monday by Scotland, rebounded to defeat Wales at Lusignan. Set 193 for victory, after restricting Wales to 192 all out in 42.2 overs, ROW reached 193 for two in 42.3 overs, winning by eight wickets.
Opener Daniel Jacobs led the way with 84 which included seven fours and two sixes and received admirable support from Harshad Ghodke with an undefeated 56.
Wales, who won the toss and batted got 62 from Bed Edkins (five fours and two sixes) as Hammad Saeed captured four for 11 from his nine overs.
The tournament continues today with five matches – Canada taking on Wales at the Guyana National Stadium, Colombia paying South Africa at the Lusignan Community Centre, West Indies battling Namibia at the Police Sports Club ground and New Zealand clashing with India at Albion.