LAUDERHILL — Pargat Singh, battling cramps, scored 85 runs in a losing cause as Canada fell to Oman by 15 runs in ICC Men's Cricket World Cup League 2 play Monday.
Oman won the toss and elected to bat, finishing at 217 for six in its 50 overs at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium.
The Canadian run chase ended with the last ball of the 49th over when No. 10 batsman Saleem Kana, on four, was caught at the boundary — leaving Canada all out at 202 with six balls remaining.
Singh was bowled by Samay Shrivastava in the 38th over with Canada at 147 for seven. Singh, who hit 12 fours in his 104-ball inning, was hobbled by the end of his knock and had difficulty running.
Shivam Sharma and Dilon Heyliger, the No. 8 and 9 batsmen, looked to be leading Canada towards the victory target.
But Sharma, on 37 was caught at the boundary in the 46th over with Canada at 190 for eight. And Heyliger, on 18, followed with Canada at 197 for nine in the 48th over with bowler Mujibur Ali taking his first international wicket.
"Obviously it hurts," said Canada captain Navneet Dhaliwal. "We haven't batted well. For sure we have to have to more runs, especially the top order. I think Pargat played really well but he needs support."
The Canadians, who lost to the 15th-ranked U.S. by 169 runs Saturday, are ranked 18th in the world in one-day play while Oman is No. 16.
The World League 2 features eight teams — also including Namibia, Nepal, the Netherlands, Scotland and the United Arab Emirates — with each side playing 36 one-day internationals spread across nine triangular series through December 2026.
The top four teams move on to a 10-country World Cup Qualifier that will send the last four teams to the 2027 World Cup.
The Netherlands (12-6-0 with two no-results) top the standings ahead of the U.S. (12-5-0) and Scotland (9-5-0 with two no-results). Monday's win moved Oman (9-6-0 with two no-results) past Canada into fourth. Canada (9-7-0 with two no-results) dropped into fifth.
The bottom four teams can also progress to the qualifier but will have to get there via the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff which includes the top four teams from the Cricket World Cup Challenge League.
Canada started well Monday with Oman's two openers falling to Sana with just 10 runs on the board. But No. 4 batsman Hammad Mirza steadied the ship with a 77-run knock off 103 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Mohammad Nadeem, batting sixth, finished at 76 not out, slugging seven fours and two sixes in his 77-ball innings. He was named man of the match.
Canadian bowlers Saad Bin Zafar, Sharma and Sana each took two wickets.
Dhaliwal faced just two balls, out leg-before-wicket, while fellow opener Yuvraj Samra managed seven runs before he was run out with Canada at 30 for two.
Singh and Harsh Thaker combined for an 80-run partnership before Thaker exited on 33 with Canada at 110 for three. And Singh's new partners did not last long with Canada stumbling to 113 for five with Zafar and Shreyas Movva dismissed for zero and two, respectively.
With 20 overs and five wickets remaining, Canada needed 114 runs. Singh needed treatment for cramps with the 32 Celsius conditions feeling like 36 C.
When play resumed after Singh's treatment, Mansab Gill was bowled for no score, leaving Canada at 116 for five. Gill had scored 54 in his debut in the loss to the U.S.
The next wicket to fall was Singh.
The Canadians, who won promotion to World League 2 from the Cricket World Cup Qualifier Playoff, face the U.S. on Friday and Oman on Sunday.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 19, 2025.
The Canadian Press
