Canada Secures Opening Victory in League 2 ODI against UAE
In the inaugural ODI of the second CWC League 2 tri-series, Canada clinched a hard-fought victory over hosts UAE at Dubai. Kaleem Sana’s exceptional bowling performance, marking his ODI return, saw him claim four wickets, restricting the home side to 194. Half-centuries from Srimantha Wijeyeratne and Nicholas Kirton guided Canada to victory with 14 balls to spare, securing a memorable start to their League 2 campaign.
It proved to be a challenging reintroduction to League 2 for UAE, playing under the guidance of new coach Lalchand Rajput. Despite being the lowest-seeded team in the League, Canada outplayed the hosts in their own backyard. Newly promoted to the ICC’s premier Associate one-day competition from the Challenge League, Canada entered the tournament following an uninspiring warm-up tour to Nepal, where they suffered a whitewash in a three-match ODI series.
Left-arm quick Sana, who sat out the Nepal tour, showcased his prowess by claiming career-best ODI figures of 4-42. After debutant Tanish Suri’s run-out, Sana dismantled UAE’s top order, disrupting their early recovery. Although home skipper Muhammad Wasim provided resistance, falling one run short of a half-century, wickets continued to tumble. Aayaan Afzal Khan’s defiant 38 wasn’t enough to salvage UAE’s innings as Sana’s left-arm magic rattled through their tail, bowling them out for 194.
Canada faced early hurdles in their chase, losing three of their top four batsmen cheaply and struggling at 49 for 3 after 15 overs. However, Wijeyeratne anchored the innings and found a stable partner in Nicholas Kirton. Together, they stitched a crucial 64-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Wijeyeratne’s departure for 59 provided UAE with a glimmer of hope, but Kirton’s unbeaten 68 off 90 deliveries guided Canada to victory.
Despite Zahoor Khan’s three wickets for UAE, including the crucial scalp of Wijeyeratne, Canada managed to cross the finish line. Sloppy fielding, particularly off Junaid Siddique’s bowling, cost UAE dearly. Canada now gears up to face defending League 2 champions Scotland on Thursday, while UAE will have a three-day break before their clash with Scotland on Saturday in the third ODI of the series.
Brief Scores:
| Team | Score | Top Performers |
|---|---|---|
| UAE | 194 in 47.5 ov | Muhammad Wasim (48), Ayaan Khan (38); Kaleem Sana (4-42) |
| Canada | 198/7 in 47.4 ov | Srimantha Wijeratne (59), Nicholas Kirton (86*); Zahoor Khan (3-37) |
Result: Canada won by 3 wickets.
