BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - The United States dominated Canada in a 78-run win Monday at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup Americas Region Qualifier to advance to the final stage of T20 World Cup qualifying, once again barring the Canadians from moving on.

The American women scored runs late to beef up their total, finishing at 131 for seven in their allotted 20 overs. The Canadian batters were unable to respond, digging an early hole as one wicket after another fell.

And it got worse. The Canadians crumbled from 36 to four to 53 all out, losing their last two wickets with the final two balls of the 16th over.

Opener Achini Perera was the only Canadian to reach double figures with the bat, with 19 runs off 28 balls,

Chetna Reddy Pagydyala led the U.S. with 35 runs with Anika Kolan contributing 34 before having to retire with an injury.

The U.S. also won the 2021 and 2023 Women's T20 Americas Qualifier with Canada finishing third and second, respectively. The U.S. defeated Canada 3-0 in the 2019 Americas Qualifier to move on.

Both teams were 4-1-0 going into Monday's finale with the U.S. atop the standings by virtue of a super run rate. Canada had defeated the U.S. by nine runs in their first game at the qualifier.

Only the winning side from the four-team Americas qualifier moves on to represent the region in the final stage of qualification, the 10-team ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2026.

The Americans will be joined in the 10-team Qualifier field by teams from regional competitions in Africa, Asia, Europe and the East Asia-Pacific in 2025.

"It's not our day today," said captain Amarpal Kaur. "Overall we played good cricket (at the tournament) but at this level we need more matches. Credit goes to the U.S.A. They played really well today."

Canada is currently ranked 33rd by the International Cricket Council (ICC) among women's Twenty20 International (T20I) countries with the U.S. No. 28.

Facing a victory target of 132 runs, Canada got off to a rocky start with Indomatie Goordial-John out for six off six balls, Kaur out for zero off five balls and Habeeba Bader for five off four balls, leaving the Canadians at 20 for three.

Perera stuck to her task but the Canadians trailed in the run rate needed. Kainat Qazi, on three runs, was caught with Canada at 36 for four in the 10th over. And Perera followed in the 11th over, caught with Canada 38 for five.

Rabbjyot (Rabby) Rajput, just 16 years old, lasted seven balls without scoring.

The Americans won the toss and elected to bat at St. Albans Club.

Canada's cause was not helped by some sloppy fielding. And the U.S. kept swinging, adding 12 runs in the 17th, 12 in the 18th, eight in the 19th and six in the 20th.

The U.S. was 55 for two after 10 overs. Canada, in contrast, was 37 for four.

The 2026 edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup has been expanded to 12 team and 33 matches. The tournament started with eight teams in 2009, increasing to 14 in 2014.

No team from the Americas has taken part yet.

Eight countries have already qualified for the 2026 T20 World Cup — defending champion New Zealand, Australia, England, India, South Africa and the West Indies by their performances at the 2024 tournament, plus Pakistan and Sri Lanka, who were the two next highest-ranked teams on the ICC Women’s T20I rankings table on Oct. 21, 2024.

Canada defeated Brazil by 29 runs Sunday to set up the showdown with the U.S. in their final match Monday.

After defeating the U.S. in a weather-shortened opening match last Monday, Canada lost by one run to host Argentina on Tuesday. The Canadians bounced back by defeating Brazil by seven wickets on Thursday and Argentina by 36 runs Friday.

Brazil finished third at 2-4-0 and Argentina fourth at 1-5-0.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published March 17, 2025.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025