Canada, Oman, and Namibia emerged victorious in their respective warm-up matches ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, gaining momentum as they prepare for the main event in the USA and Caribbean. Canada overpowered Nepal with a 63-run victory at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium in Dallas; Oman edged out Papua New Guinea (PNG) by 3 wickets; and Namibia defeated Uganda by five wickets at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
Choosing to bat first, Canada posted a formidable total of 183/7 in their 20 overs. Nicholas Kirton led the charge with a solid half-century, while Ravinderpal Singh contributed a quickfire 41 off just 17 balls. Opener Navneet Dhaliwal also added a steady 32 off 27 balls. In response, Nepal was bowled out for 120 in 19.3 overs, with Dilon Heyliger taking 4-20 and Jeremy Gordon and Saad Bin Zafar each claiming 2-25. Nepal’s Kushal Malla top-scored with 37 off 30 balls, but the team struggled overall, with six of their batters falling for single-digit scores.
In the match between Oman and PNG, Oman opted to field first and restricted PNG to 137/9 in 20 overs. Aqib Ilyas was the standout bowler for Oman, taking 3-22, while Bilal Khan chipped in with 2-20. PNG’s Lega Siaka scored a notable 28 off 24 balls. Chasing 138, Oman reached the target in 19.1 overs, thanks to a crucial 45 off 42 balls by Zeeshan Maqsood and a supporting 27 off 26 balls from Khalid Kail.
Meanwhile, Namibia took on Uganda at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Uganda managed to score 134 in their 20 overs, with Roger Mukasa hitting a half-century, scoring 51 off 41 balls with six boundaries and a six. Robinson Obuya contributed 38 off 27 balls. Namibia’s chase was spearheaded by Nikolaas Davin, who scored a brisk 54 off 34 balls, including three boundaries and five sixes. Jean-Pierre Kotze supported with 29 off 31 balls, as their partnership of 85 runs for the second wicket set the foundation for Namibia’s successful chase.
These warm-up victories provide a boost for Canada, Oman, and Namibia as they prepare for the highly anticipated ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
