Canada pulled off a stunning victory against Ireland by 12 runs to secure their first win in the T20 World Cup on Friday.
The match played on a much-improved pitch at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, saw Canada overcoming the odds to topple the favored Irish side.
Opting to bat first, Canada found it challenging to set the pace until Barbadian-born Nicholas Kirton's audacious innings lifted them to a competitive total of 137 for seven.
Kirton, with his 35-ball 49, was instrumental in steadying the innings after early setbacks.
Wicketkeeper Shreyas Movva also contributed significantly with a composed 37 off 36 deliveries, helping Canada cross the 100-run mark for the first time in the tournament.
Ireland, chasing a target of 138, managed to surpass the three-figure mark but ultimately fell short, finishing at 125 for seven.
Despite a resilient partnership of 62 runs between George Dockrell (30 not out) and Mark Adair (34 off 24 balls), Ireland couldn't cross the finish line.
Canada's bowlers, Jeremy Gordon (2/16) and Dillon Heyliger (2/18), delivered outstanding performances to contain the Irish batsmen.
This victory marked the second consecutive day that an associate team had shocked a full-member nation, following the USA's surprising win over former champions Pakistan.
Heading into the match, attention was focused on the pitch conditions at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium.
Previous games had been marred by uneven bounce and excessive movement, drawing criticism from players and officials alike.
However, the curators had worked hard to improve the playing surface by shaving off the grass and rolling it extensively.
The pitch behaved more consistently in this match, with occasional extra bounce but overall providing a fair contest between bat and ball.
Ireland won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that initially seemed to pay off as they had Canada reeling at 53 for four in the ninth over.
Seamer Craig Young (2/32) was particularly impressive, taking the wickets of Aaron Johnson (14) and Pargat Singh (18). Opening bowler Mark Adair also made an early breakthrough by dismissing Navneet Dhaliwal (6), who had scored a half-century in the tournament opener against the USA.
Leg-spinner Gareth Delany chipped in by taking the wicket of Dilpreet Bajwa (7) with his first ball.
Canada's innings was in trouble, but Kirton and Movva steadied the ship.
Kirton's aggressive approach paid off as he hit six boundaries in his innings. Movva provided solid support, ensuring that Canada reached a respectable total.
In their chase, Ireland started cautiously, reaching 26 in 5.4 overs before losing their first wicket. Jeremy Gordon struck a crucial blow by removing Ireland's skipper Paul Stirling (9).
The dismissal triggered a collapse as Andrew Balbirnie (17) was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Junaid Siddiqui, and Canada captain Saad Bin Zafar bowled Harry Tector for 7, leaving Ireland struggling at 41 for three in the eighth over.
Ireland's situation worsened with the quick dismissals of Lorcan Tucker (10), Curtis Campher (4), and Gareth Delany (3).
Tucker was run out, while Campher and Delany fell to the disciplined bowling of Dillon Heyliger. At 59 for six in the 13th over, Ireland was staring at an imminent defeat.
Dockrell and Adair offered some resistance with their partnership, but the target proved too steep. Canada’s bowlers held their nerve, ensuring that Ireland fell short by 12 runs.
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