ICC UNDER-19 WORLD CUP

A sport that seldom gets any coverage, but we do see several individuals playing it in the lower mainland, mostly due to the culture of the players.

Canada does have a team, but very few have even heard of our BC Provincial Cricket team or the National Cricket Team only due to lack of promotion from various regions and/or clubs in the respective Province.

I just received this from Cricket Canada letting us know that our National team defeated Fiji to finish in 15th spot, so enjoy the read.

Canada Under-19 ended its ICC Under-19 World Cup 2016 campaign with something to show for its efforts on a long tour. It beat Fiji Under-19 by eight wickets to finish 15th in the tournament.

It meant Fiji finished its maiden World Cup without victory in six matches, but with the benefit of experience of participating in a global tournament.

Put in, Fiji struggled against spin, losing eight wickets to the turning ball.

It was shot out for 83 in 28 overs – that despite a couple of mis-fields and dropped chances. Miraj Patel, the off-spinner, claimed a four-wicket haul after Shlok Patel (3 for 18) started the procession.

 Canada barely put a foot wrong in the chase as Akash Gill led the charge with an unbeaten 65-ball 38. Victory was completed in 20 overs.

Fiji’s openers, Delaimatuku Maraiwai and Jordan Dunham, were circumspect, mindful of the need to break away from a pattern of losing early wickets.

They were aided by luck as a couple of miscues fell short of fielders and went about laying a foundation with a 26-run stand.

The sixth over from Shlok changed everything. He had Dunham trapped in front with a quicker one, and Saimoni Tuitoga caught behind two balls later.

 The quick wickets rattled Fiji, and in the space of five overs, three more wickets had fallen, including that of Maraiwai, whose 24-ball 14 was the highest score of the innings.

When Peni Vuniwaqa, who had scored a defiant 123-ball 80 against Scotland, gifted his wicket to Kurt Ramdath for a 30-ball 6, Fiji’s last ray of hope was extinguished.

T Veitacini stuck around to score a 44-ball 13, but Miraj chipped away at the tail and had Veitacini himself sent back. Fiji’s innings lasted a little under two hours.

 The chase was routine. Gill and Amish Taploo, the Canadian openers, took contrasting approaches. Gill was aggressive, driving and pulling away to the ropes even as Taploo dead-batted.

Fiji’s poor fielding and an inordinate number of extras did them no favours.

Josaia Baleicikoibia sent down 15 deliveries in the fourth over, including seven wides and two no-balls.

When the legal deliveries did come in, Gill pulled two to the fence. Baleicikoibia didn’t bowl thereafter.

Canada took its time with the chase, steering clear of risks. It crossed 50 runs gradually, before Taploo popped one back to Sosiceni Weleilakeba, the medium pacer, for a 41-ball 12 to end the 58-run opening stand.

Gill carried on, carving away boundaries, despite Bhavindu Adhihetty falling along the way, and victory was brought up without much hassle.