HOUSTON, Texas, CMC—Barbadian Nicholas Kirton weighed in. Still, his effort proved insufficient to prevent Canada from a six-wicket defeat to the United States in the opening Twenty20 International of the five-match series here Sunday.
The 25-year-old, who played the last of his ten first-class games for Barbados Pride as recently as last year, made 27 from 23 balls as Canada rallied to 132 all out of their 20 overs at Prairie View Cricket Complex.
Captain Saad Bin Zafar struck a 16-ball 29 down the order, but no other batter managed to pass 20. Left-arm spinner Nosthush Kenjige claimed three for 21 to help limit Canada.
In reply, both captain Monank Patel and Andries Gous struck precisely 50 as the USA chased down their target with 15 balls to spare.
Sent in, Canada was in trouble at 31 for three at the start of the eighth over before Pargat Singh (19) and Harsh Thaker (13) put on 31 for the fourth wicket.
When both fell in successive overs with the score on 62, and Dilpreet Bajwa followed for four in the 14th, Canada was revived by a 41-run, seventh-wicket partnership between Jones and Saad.
The United States was always in control of the chase, Monank clobbering seven fours and a six in a 34-ball knock, posting 47 for the first wicket with Steven Taylor (22) and a further 57 in a second-wicket partnership with Gous, whose 35-ball stay included five fours and three sixes.
Aaron Jones, 29, who played nine first-class matches for Barbados, made three.
Both Canada and the United States are preparing for this June’s T20 World Cup, in which they will play in Group A alongside India, Pakistan, and Ireland.
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