T20 World Cup: Canada’s Yuvraj Samra becomes first participant to reach century and youngest player in history as New Zealand win to reach Super 8s

Canada’s Yuvraj Samra became the first player from an associate nation to reach a T20 World Cup century, but it wasn’t enough to prevent them slipping to an eight-wicket defeat to New Zealand, which confirmed their place in the Super 8 stage.

Samra made 110 off 65 balls in a knock that included 11 fours and six sixes as his stunning innings helped Canada to 173-4.

The teenager had hammered a hundred off 58 balls to surpass the previous highest score by a utility player – 94 not out by American Aaron Jones against Canada in the last World Cup.

At 19 years and 141 days, he also became the youngest ever captain in a T20 World Cup, beating Pakistan’s Ahmed Shehzad (22 years and 127 days) against Bangladesh in 2014.

Samra was eventually dismissed by Jacob Duffy – caught in the deep backfield by Glenn Phillips – and was left to a standing ovation at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

“This moment has been evident ever since we qualified for the World Cup. Every day, I dreamed of scoring a hundred at this stage,” said Samra, who was named after former India batsman Yuvraj Singh.

“To do it here, on my debut [in Chennai]”As the youngest player in the World Cup, this is a dream come true.”

“Hats off to Yuvraj, he finished this match with a hundred, which is a proud moment for him and for all Canadians,” added Canada captain Dilpreet Bajwa, who went on to score 116 runs with Samra for the first wicket.

Kiwi seamers Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Jimmy Neesham and Duffy took one wicket each.

New Zealand suffered a brief wobble early in the chase when they lost openers Tim Seifert and Finn Allen in quick succession and fell to 30-2.

However, the Canadian bowlers were unable to take the advantage and a 146-run stand for the third wicket between Rasheen Ravindra and Phillips sent them home 29 balls short.

Phillips top-scored with a brutal 76 off 36 balls while Ravindra finished unbeaten with 59 off 39 deliveries.

New Zealand’s victory sent them through to qualification and they eliminated Canada as well as the United Arab Emirates and Afghanistan.