Canada v New Zealand, World Cup 2011, Group A, Mumbai

Bagai survives, but Canada give up chase

Ashish Bagai

Canada lost early wickets once again, but stubborn knocks from Hiral Patel and captain Ashish Bagai at least gave them a good chance of batting out their full quota of overs and reaching a decent total. Any chance of an assault on New Zealand's 358 quickly dissipated, however, as Canada trundled gently to 106 for 3 halfway through their innings.

The signs were ominous for Canada when Ruvindu Gunasekara slashed at the first ball of Mills' second over and Ross Taylor timed his leap to perfection at first slip to pluck the ball out of the air one handed. Canada had still not reached the boundary when, two overs later, Zubin Surkari hung his bat out limply at another Mills outswinger to offer Taylor his second catch behind the wicket.

Canada were 4 for 2 and sinking fast, but Bagai and Patel wasted no time in launching a spirited fightback. Their effort was no doubt helped by a premature end to Mills' spell when he pulled up lame one ball after he had dismissed Surkari, clutching at his left knee in some pain and leaving the field straight away. Jesse Ryder completed the over and dished up two gifts, short and wide outside off and sliding down leg, that Bagai duly cracked to the boundary.

Patel had looked nervous and strokeless at the start of his innings, but in Bagai's company he was transformed and swiped his first boundary, over midwicket, off Tim Southee. He eased noticeably thereafter, and started playing a few of the shots that, at the age of just 19, he has already become known for at Associate level.

Patel reached the boundary three times in Southee's next over, looking increasingly confident and targeting the off side, and when James Franklin over-stepped he hooked the resultant Free Hit over long leg for the first six of the innings. He added one more imperious thump over the covers in Franklin's next over but was then undone by a well-directed bouncer from Jacob Oram that cramped him for room, a thin edge nestling safely in Brendon McCullum's gloves.

Their partnership had stretched to 46 at a good rate before it was broken, and Bagai's contribution had been steady, composed accumulation. He went into the 30s with a classy loft over cover off Nathan McCullum, and though the required run-rate was touching 10-an-over halfway through the chase and the match had practically ended as a contest, a captain's knock from him would at least allow Canada to leave this tournament with their heads held high.