Canada and Nepal kicked off the warm-up fixtures for the 2024 T20 World Cup at the Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium on Monday (May 27). Here’s a round-up of the practice games so far.

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Heyliger powers Canada to thumping win over Nepal

Canada, playing their maiden T20 World Cup, started with a convincing 63-run win over Nepal on the first day of the warm-up matches. After being asked to bat, Nicholas Kirton’s 39-ball 51 and a late unbeaten cameo of 41 off 17 from Ravinderpal Singh, aided by Dillon Heyliger’s 13* (7), took Canada to 183 at the loss of seven wickets.

Fast-bowler Heyliger later turned out to be the wreaker-in-chief for Canada as his 4-20 skittled the opponents for 120. Kushal Malla (37 off 30) top-scored for Nepal as they failed to stitch any partnerships, with seven batters ending in single digits.

Oman pip Papua New Guinea

Oman gunned down Papua New Guinea’s 137-9 with three wickets and five balls left.

Opting to bowl first, Oman ensured PNG’s innings never got momentum. Captain Aqib Ilyas spun a web and finished with 3-22. However, the star performer was former captain Zeeshan Maqsood, who impressed with both bat and bowl.

The all-rounder only gave away a boundary in his three overs of left-arm spin while picking up two wickets and did the bulk of the scoring for his side with a 42-ball 45, including four boundaries and a six.

In the end, Mohammad Nadeem made sure Oman comfortably got over the line, smashing four boundaries in the penultimate over in his 11-ball 22.

Bowlers and Davin the heroes for Namibia

The third warm-up fixture of the day went Namibia’s way as they chased down Uganda’s 134-8 with five wickets still in the bank. After Jack Brassell (2-16) and Gerhard Erasmus (2-24) put them in a dominant position in the first innings, opener Nikolaas Davin joined the party with a sound 54. Davin’s 34-ball stay included five massive sixes besides three fours.

Roger Mukasa (51 not out off 41) and Henry Ssenyondo (2-14) were the few bright spots in Uganda’s defeat.

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