GEORGETOWN, Guyana, Oct 25, CMC – West Indies kept their slim hopes of qualifying for the semifinals of the International Masters Cricket (IMC) Over-40s World Cup with a 105-run victory over Canada here on Saturday.
Boosted by half centuries from Sewnarine Chattergoon, Jason Mohamed and Randy Thomas, the home side posted a formidable 368 for six in their 45 overs at the Joe Jagmohan Hampton Court ground.
Chattergoon blazed 91 off 86 balls with 10 fours and four sixes, Mohamed cracked 78 off 60 balls with eight fours and three sixes, while Thomas smashed 75 off 57 balls, inclusive of nine fours and two sixes.
Thomas and Chattergoon shared an opening partnership of 156 runs in just 19 overs to give the West Indies a blistering start.
Shane Shillingford broke the partnership by trapping Thomas lbw, but Mohamed joined forces with Chattergoon during a 74-run stand that propeled them to 230 for one in the 30th over.
The Windies suffered a slight wobble, thereafter, losing three wickets for 16 runs, but Imran Khan scored an unbeaten 46 off 34 balls and Devendra Bishoo hit an unbeaten 33 off 12 balls, with the two sharing an unbroken partnership of 61 runs for the seventh wicket.
Manpreet Khaira claimed 2-38 and Royston Crandon claimed 2-64.
Crandon returned to score a superb century, but Canada were restricted to 263 for nine in 45 overs.
Crandon slammed 137 off 103 balls with 13 fours and eight sixes, but he received little other support with only one other batter reaching 20.
For the West Indies, Chris Mittelholzer grabbed 3-48, Trevor Benn claimed 2-25 and Bishoo took 2-49.
With the victory, the West Indies moved up to seventh position in the 15-team standings with four points from their four games.
They will need to win their last two matches against Colombia and Wales and hope that other results go in their favour if they are to finish in the top four.
Table leaders Australia and Pakistan and England won their respective matches on Saturday to move to eight points.
Australia crushed Colombia by eight wickets, while Pakistan breezed past New Zealand by five wickets.
Meanwhile, England missed a chance to go top of the table after suffering a 26-run defeat to India.
In the day’s other game Namibia beat Wales by 41 runs.
CMC rb/26