King City, Canada – In an electrifying start to the Tri-Nation Twenty20 Series, Canada secured a thrilling 14-run victory over Nepal at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground. The match saw Canada’s experienced all-rounder Saad Bin Zafar play a pivotal role with both bat and ball, cementing his legacy as one of the team’s most dependable players.
The match began with Nepal winning the toss and opting to field, putting Canada into bat. However, the Canadian batsmen struggled to gain momentum, posting a modest total of 123 runs for the loss of eight wickets in their allotted 20 overs. The top order failed to capitalize on starts, with Navneet Dhaliwal (13 off 10) and Dilpreet Bajwa (14 off 10) unable to convert their brisk scores into big ones. The middle order fared slightly better, led by Saad Bin Zafar, who contributed 23 runs off 18 balls, including three boundaries. Shreyas Movva chipped in with 22 off 23 balls, but the rest of the Canadian batting lineup struggled against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack.
Nepal’s bowling was spearheaded by Sandeep Lamichhane, who took three crucial wickets for 29 runs, keeping Canada on the back foot throughout the innings. Sompal Kami also delivered a commendable performance, claiming three wickets for 30 runs, while Rijan Dhakal and Dipendra Singh Airee took one wicket each.
With 123 runs on the board, the target was attainable for Nepal. However, their chase faltered early as Canadian bowlers struck at regular intervals. Kaleem Sana was the star of the show with the ball, picking up four wickets for 26 runs in his four-over spell. Saad Bin Zafar followed up his batting contribution with a mesmerizing bowling display, claiming three wickets for just 13 runs in his four overs, leaving Nepal’s batsmen struggling to build partnerships.
Rohit Paudel, Nepal’s captain, was the lone warrior with the bat, scoring 37 runs off 39 deliveries. He received little support from his teammates, with only Kushal Malla (12) and Dev Khanal (11) managing to reach double figures. Nepal’s middle and lower order collapsed under pressure, eventually being bowled out for 109 runs in 19 overs.
Canada’s clinical bowling, combined with sharp fielding, ensured that Nepal fell short of the target by 14 runs. The victory highlighted Saad Bin Zafar’s leadership and all-round capabilities as he guided Canada to a well-deserved win in their first match of the series.
This Tri-Nation Series serves as an important preparation for both Canada and Nepal as they build towards the 2024 T20 World Cup, where Canada will be making its debut under the leadership of Saad Bin Zafar.
Match Summary:
- Canada: 123/8 (20 overs)
Saad Bin Zafar 23 (18), Shreyas Movva 22 (23)
Sandeep Lamichhane 3/29, Sompal Kami 3/30 - Nepal: 109 all out (19 overs)
Rohit Paudel 37 (39)
Kaleem Sana 4/26, Saad Bin Zafar 3/13
Result: Canada won by 14 runs
