Canada is set to make their debut at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, following a dramatic comeback in the Americas regional final held in Bermuda. The team overcame the odds, bouncing back from their initial 86-run defeat to Bermuda and managing to dodge the disruptions of Tropical Storm Philippe.
The weather concerns forced the suspension of the morning games on Saturday, but conditions improved in time for the decisive match, which was trimmed to 18 overs per team.
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Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Canada posted a total of 132/4, largely due to Navneet Dhaliwal’s impressive 45 off 38 balls. As Bermuda began their chase, Nikhil Dutta’s crucial bowling spell resulted in the dismissals of Kamau Leverock and Delray Rawlins in the same over, shifting the game’s momentum. Bermuda’s prospects further dimmed with the loss of Terryn Fray. Canada’s bowling attack, spearheaded by Kaleem Sana, who finished with figures of 3/4 in 3.5 overs, and Jeremy Gordon, who claimed 3/6 in 2 overs, eventually sealed the match for Canada.
Canada’s successful qualification marks a significant achievement, adding to their past experiences in the 50-over Cricket World Cup where they competed in 1979, 2003, 2007, and 2011.
Six teams vied for a spot in the T20 World Cup through the Americas qualifiers. Earlier in the year, Argentina and the Bahamas competed in the sub-regionals, with the Cayman Islands and Panama subsequently securing third and fourth places in the regional finals.
Also See: Canada Cricket Schedule
The USA, as co-hosts of the upcoming T20 World Cup, had already secured their place and are set to host matches across three venues during the tournament.