Canada’s batting attack fizzled Tuesday in an 94-run loss to Ireland in consolation Plate play at the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Canada won the toss and elected to field first at Brian Lara Stadium in the Plate quarterfinal.
Faced with a victory target of 180, Canada’s batsmen stumbled out of the gate with the first three wickets gone with just 12 runs on the board. Kairav Sharma (19) and Gurnek Johal Singh (15) were the only Canadians to score in double figures as Canada finished at 85 all out in the 30th over.
Reuben Wilson took three wickets, including both openers, for Ireland.
The Canadians had success earlier against the Ireland batsmen, save for 17-year-old Philippus le Roux who was 83 not out after a 107-ball innings that contained 12 fours. Ireland was 179 all out in 43.3 overs.
Ethan Gibson took two early wickets, including Ireland’s Joshua Cox (5), who struck a century against Uganda in the group stage – to reduce Ireland to 34 for three. But le Roux steadied the ship, eventually running out of partners 17 runs short of his century.
Gibson led the Canadian bowlers with three wickets while Parmveer Kharoud, Sheel Patel and Sharma had two apiece.
Canada dropped into Plate play after losing Pool A matches to the United Arab Emirates, England and defending champion Bangladesh. Ireland finished third in Pool B, defeating Uganda and losing to India and South Africa.
The top two teams in the four opening-round groups advanced to the Super League while the remaining 12 moved into Plate play at the tournament, which runs through Feb. 5.
Canada, which beat out Argentina, Bermuda and the U.S. to get in, is making its fifth straight appearance – eighth overall – at the tournament. Its best showing was 11th in 2010.