Canadian captain, Joseph Harris, said that his team of immigrant amateurs — the side has representatives from nine countries — had targeted Bangladesh as one of two World Cup opponents that they could compete with on reasonably even terms.
While he did not name the second team he did say his side’s handsome 60 run victory over Bangladesh in the Group B match at Kingsmead ”represents one of the best days of our lives and the culmination of two years of dreaming that has finally paid off.”
Canada take on Kenya at Newlands on Saturday and then face Sri Lanka in Paarl, the West Indies at Centurion, South Africa in East London and then New Zealand at Willowmoore Park in Benoni.
”We may not win too many matches in our Group at the final count but we aim to put Canadian cricket on the map in the context of the World Cup,” he said.
Asked how he planned to defend the Canada total of 180 he said: ”We had the runs. They had to get them. We responded by fielding with tremendous endeavour and in Austin Codrington, a plumber by profession, we had a man who knew how to bowl down the line.
”It was a case of keeping the pressure on Bangladesh all the time and it paid off as they were dismissed for 120. It had more or less been worked out in our game plan discussion before the game on Tuesday morning.”
In the end Codrington, named as man of the match, picked up his first ever five wicket haul for Canada although he has had five wickets in an innings before in lesser games.
Codrington said that he just bowled down the channel and his fielders had responded with four good catches to go with his one leg before decision.
”It was a great thrill to take five wickets in my first World Cup match.”
Khalid Mashud, the Bangladesh captain, conceded that Canada were not a bad side at all in spite of their amateur background and that they had frequently played good cricket.
He bemoaned the poor batting of his side although praising their efforts in the field.
”We gave away too many wickets too easily after our fine performance against the KwaZulu Natal Dolphins last week.”
In a final quip Harris suggested that because of the nature of the team’s makeup they should wear ”blue caps” because they were very much a United Nations side. – Sapa