Sports

By RON FANFAIR

The beginning and the end were fulfilling for 21-year-old Matthew Groves. His Duquesne University team made the playoffs in his freshman season before bowing out to then nationally-ranked number one seed St. Louis in the Atlantic 10 championship in 2006.

In his final college game last December, the Pickering resident netted two of the goals in his team's 3-1 victory over St. Bonaventure.

The team, however, struggled in his sophomore and junior seasons winning just five games each year. It also failed to reach the play-offs last season registering nine victories.

By RON FANFAIR

Canada's tour of the United Arab Emirates ended awfully last Tuesday with the national side sinking to a six-wicket loss to Afghanistan in their four-day Intercontinental Cup fixture in Sharjah.

After dominating the first three days and seemingly well on course to finish the tour on a high note after missing out on qualifying for the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty/20 World Cup in the West Indies, Canada stumbled badly allowing Afghanistan to register 454 runs for the loss of four wickets on the final day.

It was the ninth highest fourth innings run chase in first-class cricket and the highest by an ICC Associate team.

By RON FANFAIR

The margin for error in cricket's shortest version - Twenty/20 - is extremely minimal.

Canada now knows that after their extremely disappointing showing in the just concluded International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty/20 World Cup qualifier in the United Arab Emirates.

Not only did the national senior team go winless - the Scots did too - in the eight-team qualifier for this year's World Cup in the West Indies, but the margin of defeat in two of the three contests was embarrassing.

Canada succumbed to Kenya by nine wickets with 38 balls remaining and to the United Arab Emirates by 42 runs in 69 minutes with 25 balls left.

By RON FANFAIR

Hard-hitting batsman Rizwan Cheema was struck in the face by a rising ball in the day's second over and his opening partner John Davison was dismissed without scoring five balls into the contest as Canada sank to a six-wicket loss to The Netherlands on the opening day of the International Cricket Council (ICC) Twenty/20 World Cup qualifier in Dubai.

Ian Billcliff and Geoff Barnett hit 37 and 36 respectively to boost Canada's total to 142-7 in 20 overs, a total that proved insufficient for the Dutch who reached the target with five balls to spare.

Canada met Kenya yesterday before taking on the United Arab Emirates later today.