The Hindu : Codrington rings in Canada's first LOI win

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Feb 13, 2003

Sport

Sport - World Cup

Codrington rings in Canada's first LOI win

DURBAN Feb. 12. Seam bowler Austin Codrington's five-wicket spell bowled Canada to a stunning 60-run victory over Bangladesh on its return to World Cup cricket after 24 years at Kingsmead on Tuesday.

Jamaica-born Codrington claimed five for 27 as Bangladesh lost six wickets for 14 runs to give Canada its first-ever win in only its fourth limited-over international.

Batting first after skipper Joseph Harris, a former Barbados player, won the toss, Canada was all out for 180 in 49.1 overs, but bounced back to dismiss Bangladesh for 120 in 28.

Captain Harris, leading an amateur squad comprising salesmen, teachers and students, termed this as a golden moment for Canadian cricket.

``This is a golden moment for Canadian cricket, which should now take a big leap,'' Harris said.

``We're amateur players and have never played at this level before. It's obviously the best day of our lives,'' he said. ``Our goal was to put our country on the world cricket map and get the exposure that it needs.

``Our team includes players born in nine different countries, and we considered using a blue United Nations cap.''

Two wickets each by off-spinner John Davison, who gained first-class experience representing Australian states of Victoria and South Australia, and medium-pacer David Joseph contributed to Canada's victory.

The whole Canadian team was making its one-day international debut with the country making the grade for the first time since its disastrous appearance in the 1979 World Cup, when it suffered heavy defeats in all three matches. Those were its only previous one-day internationals.

This time, Canada secured the last of the 14 World Cup spots by finishing third in the ICC Trophy for countries that do not have the one-day international status.

Canada's disastrous previous appearance in 1979 earned it the dubious distinction of posting the lowest-ever World Cup score — 45 against England in Manchester.

Canadian batsmen's inexperience showed as they faltered against an accurate Bangladesh attack. But they passed the previous best score of 139 for nine against Pakistan in the 1979 World Cup.

At 106 for four Bangladesh seemed coasting toward its first one-day win in four years since it beat Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup, but Codrington turned the tide with his match-winning spell.

Bangladesh, which made its World Cup debut in 1999 and became the 10th and latest entrant into the Test-playing family the following year, has won only three of its 62 one-dayers.

SCOREBOARD

CANADA:

I. Maraj c Hossain b Baisya 24

John Davison b Mortaza 8

D. Chumney (run out) 28

I. Billcliff (run out) 42

J. Harris c Mashud b Hossain 4

N. de Groot c Haque

b Hossain 0

F. Samad lbw b Kapali 13

A. Bagai b Mortaza 7

S. Thuraisingham

lbw b Rafique 6

A. Codrington c Baisya 16

b Islam

D. Joseph (not out) 9

Extras (lb-7 , nb-2 , w-14) 23

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Total (49.1 overs) 180

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Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-47, 3-70, 4-92, 5-104, 6-130, 7-134, 8-146, 9-159.

BANGLADESH BOWLING

O M R W

Islam 8.1 1 30 1

Mortaza 8 0 38 2

Rafique 10 2 34 1

Hossain 10 0 26 2

Kapali 10 0 19 1

BANGLADESH:

H. Sarkar c Bagai b Codrington 25

Al Sahariar c Fazil Samad

b Joseph 9

H. Bashar c Bagai

b Thuraisingham 0

E. Haque c Bagai b Joseph 13

S. Hossain lbw b Davison 25

A. Kapali lbw b Codrington 19

K. Mashud c sub b Davison 1

M. Rafique c Davison

b Cordington 12

T. Baisya c sub b Codrington 0

M. Mortaza c sub b Codrington 0

M. Islam (not out) 0

Extras (lb-2, w-14) 16

— —

Total (28 overs) 120

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