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In a significant boost to their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 preparations, USA defeated Canada by four wickets in the fifth and final T20I of the series on 13 April.
After Canada skipper Saad Bin Zafar won the toss and elected to bat first, contributions from Aaron Johnson (33), Harsh Thaker (38) and Dilpreet Singh (33) helped post a competitive total of 168/5. Sauarbh Netravalkar (1/29), Shadley van Schalkwyk (2/42) and Nisarg Patel (1/22) were among the wickets.
In response, Rishiv Joshi and Saad rocked USA with early wickets, leaving the team stumbling at 9/3. However, former Canada international Nitish Kumar led USA's fightback, slamming 64 off just 38 balls, laced with four fours and as many sixes. Harmeet Singh and Nisarg Patel helped close the chase with four wickets in hand.
Nitish was the Player of the Match for his enterprising knock.
The T20 World Cup tournament co-hosts were on a roll heading into the final game, having already sealed the series 3-0 in the previous game.
USA won the first game of the series by six wickets after they chased down Canada’s target of 132 in 17.3 overs. Nosthusha Kenjige was the star performer with 3/21.
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In the second game, USA posted an imposing 230/3, their highest-ever total in T20I cricket. USA's top three batters adopted an aggressive approach, with Steven Taylor (54 from 25), Monank Patel (68 from 35), and Andries Gous (57 off 35) all going ballistic. Canada gave a glimpse of their batting prowess as well, led by Aaron’s brilliant 74, though the target proved to be 31 runs too many despite their valiant efforts.
The third game was abandoned while USA took the series in the fourth encounter by 14 runs. Harmeet’s quickfire 34* from 17 helped the hosts reach 159/6 before he followed it up with a career-best 4/18 to keep Canada to 145/6.
Harmeet Singh was the Player of the Series for his all-round effort, picking up a joint-highest six wickets at an average of 12.66 to go with 48 runs with the bat. Monank Patel (120 runs at a strike rate of 169) and Steven Taylor (115 runs at a strike rate of 159.72) were the major contributors for USA with the willow. On the bowling front, Schalkwyk's exceptional performance stood out, who claimed six crucial wickets at an average of 22.16 and was supported by Netravalkar with five wickets at an average of 20.8,
For Canada, Johnson was the leading scorer with 124 runs at a strike rate of 144.18. Skipper Saad was the leading wicket-taker with five scalps at 18.6.
This series was a great opportunity for both sides to fine-tune their squads ahead of the T20 World Cup, where they are pitted together in Group A alongside India, Pakistan and Ireland.
It won't be long before USA and Canada come face to face again as the two sides will clash in the curtain raiser of the T20 World Cup on 1 June
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