Canada edged out Nepal in a closely contested fourth match of the Nofrillsca T20I Tri-Series, winning by 4 wickets with three balls to spare. It was a superb all-round performance from Saad Bin Zafar that propelled Canada to victory, as he took home the Player of the Match award for his contributions with both bat and ball.
Nepal’s Innings: Steady but Contained
Nepal, batting first, posted a competitive total of 139/6 in their 20 overs. Anil Sah led the way with a solid 41 off 30 balls, while Aasif Sheikh contributed 30 off 30 deliveries. Gulsan Jha’s quick 23* off 16 balls towards the end gave Nepal a decent total to defend, but they were restricted by a disciplined Canadian bowling attack.
Harsh Thaker was the standout bowler for Canada, taking 2 wickets for 17 runs in his 4 overs. Saad Bin Zafar played his part too, with an economical spell of 1/13 in his 4 overs, and Akhil Kumar chipped in with 1/19 in his 2 overs.
Canada’s Chase: Saad Bin Zafar Steals the Show
Chasing 140, Canada found themselves in a tricky position with wickets falling at regular intervals. However, Saad Bin Zafar played a crucial knock of 33* off just 18 balls, guiding his team to victory in the final over. His aggressive batting under pressure ensured that Canada crossed the line with three balls remaining. Nicholas Kirton chipped in with a quickfire 26 off 14 balls, while Dilpreet Bajwa held the innings together with 25 off 29.
For Nepal, Lalit Rajbanshi (2/20) and Sandeep Lamichhane (2/23) bowled well, but it wasn’t enough to stop Canada from reaching the target. Sompal Kami also picked up a wicket, conceding 31 runs in his 4 overs.
Saad Bin Zafar: The Match-Winner
Saad Bin Zafar’s all-round performance was the difference-maker. His economical bowling and match-winning knock under pressure earned him the Player of the Match award. His efforts have helped Canada maintain a strong position in the tri-series as they continue to impress with both bat and ball.
With this win, Canada continues its push for the tri-series title, while Nepal will look to regroup for the upcoming matches.
