In a thrilling start to the Canada T20 Tri-Series, Canada secured a hard-fought 14-run victory over Nepal at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground, King City, on September 28, 2024. Saad Bin Zafar’s brilliant all-round performance was the highlight of the match, earning him the Player of the Match award as Canada defended a modest total of 123/8.
Key Highlights:
- Saad Bin Zafar’s All-Round Brilliance: Zafar played a crucial role with both bat and ball. His quickfire 23 off 18 balls, including three boundaries, lifted Canada to a competitive total. Later, with the ball, he wreaked havoc on Nepal’s middle order, taking 3/13 from his four overs, ensuring Nepal couldn’t chase down the target.
- Canada’s Balanced Bowling Attack: Besides Zafar’s excellent spell, Kaleem Sana also shone with the ball, claiming 4/26 and dismantling Nepal’s batting lineup. His crucial wickets included that of Nepal captain Rohit Paudel, which shifted the momentum in Canada’s favor.
- Nepal’s Struggle with the Bat: Despite a valiant 37 off 39 balls from skipper Rohit Paudel, Nepal fell short of the target, being bowled out for 109 in 19 overs. Their chase never gathered momentum after losing early wickets, with only Kushal Malla and Kushal Bhurtel offering brief resistance.
- Sompal Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane’s Contributions: For Nepal, Sompal Kami picked up three wickets, while star spinner Sandeep Lamichhane also grabbed 3/29, keeping the Canadian batsmen under pressure for most of their innings.
Key Moments:
- Saad Bin Zafar’s Match-Winning Spell: Zafar’s breakthrough in the middle overs, dismissing key Nepalese batsmen like Kushal Bhurtel and Dipendra Singh Airee, turned the game in Canada’s favor.
- Kaleem Sana’s Early Strikes: Sana’s early breakthroughs reduced Nepal to 36/3 inside six overs, putting immense pressure on the chasing team.
- Canada’s Resilient Batting: Though wickets fell at regular intervals, cameos from Shreyas Movva (22), Parveen Kumar (19), and Akhil Kumar (14 not out) helped Canada reach a defendable total.
Brief Scores:
Canada: 123/8 in 20 overs (Saad Bin Zafar 23, Shreyas Movva 22; Sompal Kami 3/30, Sandeep Lamichhane 3/29)
Nepal: 109 all out in 19 overs (Rohit Paudel 37, Kushal Malla 12; Kaleem Sana 4/26, Saad Bin Zafar 3/13)
Result: Canada won by 14 runs
Player of the Match: Saad Bin Zafar (Canada) – 23 (18) & 3/13
Canada’s all-round performance, led by Saad Bin Zafar, allowed them to defend a below-par score and register a confidence-boosting win in the Canada T20 Tri-Series. Nepal, despite promising spells with the ball, will need to regroup and strengthen their batting for their upcoming matches in the tournament.
