Canada left facing defeat in ICC Intercontinental Cup clash with Bermuda
Visitors’ captain Romaine (84) helps set Canada highest total of the match to win Canada loses four quick wickets, captain Billcliff left with lots to do
Canada was left facing defeat after day three of its ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda at King City, Ontario.
The home side, set 258 for victory, slumped to 32-4 by the close with two wickets apiece for medium-pacer Stefan Kelly and left-arm spinner Dwayne Leverock.
This followed a superb innings of 84 by Bermuda captain Irving Romaine, who steered the visitors from a precarious 78-5 to a final second innings total of 248.
Romaine, who hit nine fours in a patient knock, found valuable support from wicketkeeper Jekon Edness (46) and Leverock (29 not out) as spinners Sunil Dhaniram (4-36) and Saad Bin Zafar (4-58 on his first-class debut) whittled their way through determined lower order resistance.
Dhaniram’s figures were remarkable as his haul came from a marathon 42.5 overs but, thanks to the patient Romaine, Bermuda still got itself into a position where it asked Canada to make the highest total of the match to win.
In order to make that total Canada required a steady start and to lose as few wickets as possible in what turned out to be 20.1 overs up to the close of play but, thanks to Leverock and Kelly, that ideal turned out to be little more than a dream.
In fact, the dream was a nightmare as Kelly’s incisive opening burst saw off Abdool Samad, lbw to the first ball he faced, and Trevin Bastiampillai, caught by Ryan Steede, also without scoring.
Then Leverock, who took five wickets in Canada’s first innings, got in on the act, removing opener Geoff Barnett, caught by Kelly and, in the final over of the day, Saad Bin Zafar, caught by Chris Foggo for two.
Captain Ian Billcliff was left unbeaten on 14 but with a huge amount left to do to try and ensure victory for his side.
Bermuda had previously earned the six first innings points available when Canada, 142-3 at one stage in response to the visitors’ 238, slipped to 227 all out.
The ICC Intercontinental Cup has quickly grown in stature and profile since its inception three years ago and now the ICC’s premier first-class tournament is an integral part of the Associate Members’ cricket schedule.
Having previously been designed around a two-group, three-day format, the event has evolved into an eight-team, round-robin and truly global tournament featuring four-day cricket which gives those teams who do not play Test cricket the chance to experience the longer form of the game.
Scotland won the first ICC Intercontinental Cup in 2004, beating Canada in the final, while Ireland has been victorious in both events since then, beating Kenya in the 2005 decider and Canada in the 2006-07 event.
The final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup 2007-08 will take place in November 2008 at a venue yet to be confirmed.
For more information go to: www.icc-cricket.com