Dhaniram Brilliance Not Enough For Canada

Dhaniram - great All-round display.

A brilliant all-round display from Sunil Dhaniram was not enough to claim victory for Canada, as they just lost out to Bermuda for the second time in as many days at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground in King City.

Chasing a reduced total of 196 due to a rain delay after the lunch break, Canada fell 11 runs short of the required total. It was a valiant effort considering that the home team had collapsed to 61 for six after a great spell from Bermuda medium pacers George O'Brien and Ryan Steed. O'Brien finished with figures of 3 for 31 from his 10 overs.

The recovery was due to a superb partnership between Dhaniram and Harvir Baidwan. The pair bought the Canadians to within striking distance of the total, leaving 24 runs needed of 18 deliveries with two wickets remaining. Things were looking good for Canada when a Dhaniram boundary brought the equation down to a run a ball, but when he departed for a brilliant 79 off 86 balls Bermuda could smell victory.

An injured Umar Bhatti came out at number eleven with his hand in a sling, and in an attempt to farm the strike to the man at the other end, Sami Faridi, was run out, leaving the Canadians just short.

Earlier in the day Bermuda too had suffered a top-order collapse, reeling at 89 for five at one stage, before Rodney Trott (48) and Stephen Outerbridge (42) put them back on the right path. Jekon Edness chipped in with 47 off 35, as Bermuda posted a competitive total. The score could have been considerably greater had it not been for some fine bowling from Dhaniram, who finished with career best figures of five for 32.