MISSISSAUGUA, Ontario, CMC – Guyanese batsman Rajendra Chandrika stroked an unbeaten half-century to fire West Indies HPC to a convincing eight-wicket win over Bermuda in their opening Twenty20 game of the Cricket Canada Summer Festival on Saturday.
The right-hander scored 51 as the HPC, set 94 to win, reached their target with 13 balls to spare at the Malton Cricket Ground.
Earlier, Bermuda were limited to 93 for eight with Dion Stovell and David Hemp both scoring 22, and leg-spinner Kerron Cottoy claiming three for 14.
The HPC were off to a terrible start when they lost opener Kyle Corbin without scoring, run out in the first over to leave the score on one for one.
However, Chandrika and Devon Thomas came together to add 84 from 89 balls for the second wicket, to set up victory for the HPC side.
While Chandrika struck three fours and a six off 58 balls, Thomas hit a responsible 33 from 43 balls.
With victory in sight, Thomas looked to finish the match with a big shot but was caught in the deep by Fiqre Crockwell off medium pacer Kyle Hodsoll.
In the day’s second T20 game, Bermuda suffered their second defeat when they went down by 10 wickets to Canada.
They were bowled out for 61 off 16.4 overs with Akshay Bagai capturing five for 10, and openers Hiral Patel (31) and Rizwan Cheema (27) then carried Canada to an easy victory.
