Canada’s Dominant Start to T20 World Cup Preparations with Victory Over Nepal
Canada v Nepal: Match Summary
Canada kicked off their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 preparations with a commanding 63-run victory over Nepal.
In their first T20 World Cup appearance, the North Americans showcased a balanced performance with both resilience and aggression on display.
Canada triumphed over Nepal by 64 runs in their ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 warm-up match.
Canada’s Power-Hitting Masterclass
After being asked to bat first, Canada set the stage on fire with their explosive batting, scoring at an impressive rate of 9.15 runs per over.
Nicholas Kirton was the standout performer. The left-handed batter played a crucial role in propelling Canada’s innings with his well-timed shots, hitting four fours and two sixes in his knock of 52 off 39 balls.
Despite a shaky situation at 135/7 in the 18th over, Canada finished strong by scoring 55 runs in the last three overs, thanks to blistering cameos from Ravinderpal Singh and Dillon Heyliger (13* off 7 balls). Ravinderpal’s extraordinary innings of 41* off 17 balls, which included four sixes and a four at a strike rate of 241.17, propelled Canada to a total of 183/7.
Nepal’s Bowling Success Overshadowed by Batting Failure
Nepal’s bowlers shone in the middle overs, claiming five wickets and conceding just 24 runs in 27 deliveries. Canada’s score slipped from 111/2 in the 14th over to 135/7 in the 18th over, with Nepal’s Sagar Dhakal proving to be the most economical bowler.
However, Nepal’s batting failed to match their bowling prowess, struggling to keep up with the required run rate of 9.2 in their chase of 184. Openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh found it difficult to accelerate.
Anil Sah was the only Nepal batter who looked comfortable, but his promising innings was cut short by Navneet Dhaliwal off Pargat Singh’s bowling.
The middle order, including captain Rohit Paudel, Sundeep Jora, and Gulshan Jha, failed to make significant contributions, all returning to the pavilion with single-digit scores.
Heyliger, who had earlier contributed with the bat, returned to action with the ball, claiming four wickets for just 20 runs. Canada’s all-round performance resulted in Nepal being bowled out for 120, securing a 63-run win.
Injury Concerns for Canada
Rayyan Pathan, batting at number three for Canada, retired hurt after just one ball due to a hamstring concern.
Pargat Singh, after dropping a catch, landed awkwardly on his left ankle during the 18th over. His reactions suggested a serious injury, requiring him to be stretchered off the field.
Soon after, Ravinderpal Singh went down with cramps after taking a stunning catch, raising further concerns. Fortunately, Ravinderpal recovered quickly and continued fielding.
Canada will face the Netherlands in their next warm-up match in Dallas on 31 May, while Nepal will take on co-hosts USA at the same ground on 30 May.
‘Out of this World’ by Sean Paul and Kes: The official ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 anthem