Harsh Thaker scores second straight century as Canadian cricketers win again
By The Canadian Press on March 7, 2024.
DUBAI CITY, United Arab Emirates – Harsh Thaker hit his second straight century to help Canada defeat Scotland by five wickets Thursday and remain unbeaten after four matches in ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 play. Thaker, who scored his maiden one-day international century with an unbeaten 111 in Tuesday’s win over the United Arab Emirates, scored 105 not out Thursday with eight fours and one six in his 151-ball innings at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. After winning the toss, Canada elected to field and restricted Scotland to 197 all out in 47.3 overs. Thaker led the Canadian bowling attack with three wickets at the expense of 41 runs. Brandon McMullen led Scotland with 36 runs. Batting fifth, Thaker rescued the Canadians whose first four batsmen totalled just 26 runs. Nicholas Kirton and Shreyas Movva assisted the turnaround with 44 and 20 runs, respectively, as Canada reached 200 for five in 45.4 overs. Thaker was named man of the match for the second week in a row. Canada leads the eight-team standings at 4-0 while Scotland dropped to 1-2. Canada returns to action in August, in a tri-series with the United States and host Netherlands. The World Cup League 2 features eight teams: Canada, Namibia, Nepal, the Netherlands, Oman, Scotland, United Arab Emirates and the U.S. After 144 matches from 24-tri-series, the top four sides will move within one step of qualifying for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. The four teams that move on will join others in the World Cup Qualifier which will send four teams on to join 10 direct qualifiers in the World Cup. Co-hosts South Africa and Zimbabwe and the other top-eight ranked teams will complete the 14-team World Cup lineup. Canada regained its one-day international status for the first time in almost a decade by finishing in the top four at last April’s ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff in Namibia. The Canadian men are also headed to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, for the first time, in June in the West Indies and U.S. — This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 7, 2024 15-14
