KING CITY — Kanwarpal Tathgur scored 53 not out as Canada defeated the Cayman Islands by 59 runs Monday for its second win in as many matches at the Americas Qualifier for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The Canadian men downed Bermuda by 110 runs Sunday.
The Caymans won the toss at the Maple Leaf Cricket Ground and elected to field Monday. Canada finished at 162 for five in its allotted 20 overs with the Caymans restricted to 103 for nine in response.
Canada, the Bahamas, Bermuda and Cayman Islands are competing in an eight-day double round-robin format that will see the group winner advance to next year's ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Canada made its T20 World Cup debut last year, failing to advance out of the group stage after beating Ireland and losing to Pakistan and co-host U.S. A match against India was abandoned due to inclement weather.
Canadian opener Aaron Johnson did not make it out of the first over Monday, failing to score before being caught with just two runs on the board. No. 3 batsman Pargat Singh was out leg before wicket for one run, lasting just two balls.
Opener Yuvraj Samra and captain Nicholas Kirton put on a 47-run partnership, with Samra finishing on 28 runs and Kirton on 42. Tathgur hit four fours and two sixes in his 32-ball knock.
Openers Jermaine Baker and Akshay Naidoo led the Cayman Islands with 30 and 24 runs, respectively. There was little resistance further down the batting order, however, with the Caymans crumbling from 70 for two to 97 for nine.
Shivam Sharma led the Canadian bowlers with three wickets.
Canada faces the Bahamas on Wednesday, Cayman Islands on Thursday, Bahamas on Saturday and Bermuda next Sunday.
The Cayman Islands and Bahamas were recently promoted from the Subregional Qualifier.
Canada is ranked 19th in T20 play by the International Cricket Council, compared to No. 27 for Bermuda, No. 41 for the Cayman Islands and No. 52 for the Bahamas.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 16, 2025
The Canadian Press
