Monank Patel scored a commanding 121* off 95 balls to lead the USA to a 14-run victory over Canada in their opening match of the 2027 Men's Cricket World Cup qualification cycle.

Monank Patel has shined with a comeback century and the USA has edge past Canada

Monank Patel marked his comeback with a brilliant century for the USA © Getty

USA scored 304/4 in 50 overs, where as Canada scored 290/9 in 50 overs.

So, finally USA beat Canada by 14 runs.

USA captain Monank Patel played a dazzling innings of 121* off 95 balls to lead the USA to a 14-run victory over Canada in their opening match of the three-year qualification cycle for the 2027 Men’s Cricket World Cup.

Returning to the USA side after a high-profile performance in the T20 World Cup and subsequent injury, the 31-year-old’s rapid century proved pivotal in the match.

Nosthush Kenjige’s incisive spell of 3 for 37 in 10 overs stifled the Canadian middle order, while Harsh Thaker and Dillon Heyliger mounted a late challenge but fell just short against a thin USA bowling attack.

After a 13-month ODI hiatus, the USA batted first on a gloomy morning in Voorburg.

The new opening pair of Steven Taylor and debutant Smit Patel faced an early test.

Taylor started slowly but picked up pace with back-to-back boundaries, while Smit Patel quickly found his rhythm, hitting boundaries off Kaleem Sana and a few more off Heyliger.

Heyliger eventually dismissed Taylor in the 14th over after a 71-run opening stand, bringing Smit and Monank together.

The pair added 62 runs for the second wicket before Smit was dismissed for a well-made 63 off 84 balls.

Aaron Jones struggled before being stumped by Thaker for 15, and Milind Kumar was out for a golden duck on his debut.

However, Shayan Jahangir joined Monank to add an unbeaten 143 runs off 100 balls, pushing the USA past 300.

Monank accelerated in the final 17 overs, scoring 82 runs off 55 balls, including 5 sixes and 4 boundaries.

His powerful hitting included four sixes over the straight boundary and a beautifully timed six over point.

Jahangir supported him with a quick 57 off 47.

Canada’s chase began with Aaron Johnson’s aggressive start, including two sixes off Shadley Van Schalkwyk and four boundaries off Abhishek Paradkar.

Despite a few breakthroughs, including Johnson’s dismissal by Harmeet Singh and Pargat Singh’s aggressive innings, Canada struggled to maintain their momentum.

Key wickets from Jasdeep Singh, Kenjige, and others kept the pressure on Canada, who fell short despite a valiant effort from Thaker and Heyliger, who scored half-centuries and almost pulled off a remarkable chase.

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