Canada began their play in the ICC Americas Under-17 Match Play Tournament with a comfortable win over the United States, though coach Errol Barrow insists that there is still room for improvement ahead of their second match today with Bermuda.

The US, winners over Bermuda by 36 runs on Monday, were brought back down to earth by Canada who restricted them to 117 for nine in their 50 overs, with spin bowler Harsh Thacker their main tormentor, taking three for nine off ten overs with five maidens while Arbraash Khan, their captain, claimed two for 26 from nine overs of seam.

Khan then played a captain’s innings to secure the victory with 17.1 overs remaining. Batting at No 4 he scored 40 not out after adding 55 for the unbroken fourth wicket stand with Arslan Khan.

Both hit three fours, as did opener Thursaanth Anantharajan who scored 25 in a stand of 44 with his captain after the US pegged them back to 19 for two by the sixth over.

“The whole team can lift our standard a bit, we managed to win the game but it wasn’t a flawless execution,” Barrow said.

“We’re hoping by tomorrow’s game [v Bermuda today] that we can look back in the areas that we not quite up to our standards and try to improve on those.

“Naturally as a coach you are never totally comfortable, always trying for improvements. That’s always my aim.”

Khan will renew some acquaintance today when he goes up against Alex Dore, Delray Rawlins and Micah Simons who were his team-mates in the ICC Americas team that played in the Regional Under-19 tournament recently in Guyana.

Khan showed himself to be quite handy with the bat and ball in a team with several Canada-born players of Pakistan and Indian descent. The youth league in Canada is prospering, said Barrow, a former Canada international, who is originally from Barbados.

“I’m a product of that, I came through the system twenty-plus years ago,” he said.

The US, after choosing to bat first, found themselves 62 for six, despite an opening stand of 29 between Sagar Patel and Arjun Patel.

The openers departed on 29 and Mohak Buch on 42 before three more wickets went down on 60, 62 and 62 as Harsh Thacker had a double- wicket maiden in his seventh over as Novendra Boodhoo was caught and bowled first ball.

Jash Patel offered some resistance in the middle order where he stroked 25 before being ninth out on 94.

Patel, similar in build and batting style to Delyone Borden, hit fours through the covers, including three in one over from spin bowler Harman Sidhu to knock him out of the attack.

Then after taking a catch in the slips for the first Canada wicket, Patel also bowled a good spell of left-arm spin, taking one for 32, after Shehan Perara claimed the first to wickets on his way to figures of two for 21.

Keifer Phill, the US captain, who was also a member of the ICC Americas team in Guyana, had a good spell with the new ball. Barrow praised for the condition of the North Field where good shots were often rewarded with boundaries. The teams are allowed to use twelve players, with one player allowed to bowl but not bat.

“The outfield is as good as any I’ve seen, and I’ve seen some of the best in the world,” said the Canada coach.

“The wicket was holding up and spinning a little bit and we’ve got our share of spinners and I think we’ll be comfortable with that. We have a good mix of spin and seam.”

Barrow is enjoying his first trip to the Island.

“Bermuda is a magical place, I’ve been invited on a couple of occasions previously but the timing just never really worked out,” he said.

“I love the fact that we’re so close to the ocean, I’m looking forward to getting in some fishing. I love fishing, that’s my relaxation.”