ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (CMC) — Two West Indian bowlers were instrumental in Canada putting three defeats behind them when they registered a 44-run victory over Uganda in their Group A match in the ICC World Cup Twenty20 qualifiers here yesterday.

Guyana-born fast medium bowler Jeremy Gordon claimed 2-9 and Trinidad-born off-break bowler Abzal Dean 2-16 — both from three overs — as Canada dismissed Uganda for 93 in 17.2 overs after posting 137-7 in their 20 overs at the Sheikh Zahed Stadium Nursery One ground.

Canada owed their total to an unbeaten 58 from Jimmy Hansra and 40 from Ashish Bagai, with no other batsman reaching double figures.

In another Group A match in Abu Dhabi, Namibia beat Italy by three wickets off the final ball.

Namibia lost two wickets in the final over — including Craig Williams, who made 57 off 51 balls — before scrambling to 122-7 in reply to Italy’s 121-6.

United Arab Emirates ended Hong Kong’s three-match Group A winning streak, 42-year-old Pakistan-born skipper Kurram Khan spearheading the seven-wicket victory in Abu Dhabi with an unbeaten 67 from 42 balls as the hosts won with eight balls to spare chasing a victory target of 139.

In Group B, veteran Steve Tikolo led Kenya to a crushing 92-run victory over Scotland in Dubai — not with the bat but with the ball.

Tikolo, 42, the seventh bowler used, claimed 4-2 from eight balls with his off-breaks as Scotland were skittled out for 91 in 13.2 overs after Kenya rattled up 183-7, number eight Ragheb Aga topscoring with an unbeaten 52 from 25 balls.

In an all-European clash in Dubai, the Netherlands beat Denmark, who are yet to pick up a point, by seven wickets with 56 balls to spare, opener Stephan Myburgh’s unbeaten 54 steering the Dutch to 110-3 after medium-fast bowler Ahsan Malik snapped up 4-10 to restrict the Danes to 109-8.

In the third Group B match, Nepal beat Papua New Guinea in Sharjah by seven wickets with 10 balls to spare, despite former England wicketkeeper Geraint Jones’ half-century.

Papua New Guinea-born Jones, 37, who made his Test debut against West Indies in Antigua in 2004, hit four sixes in his 55 as PNG made 140-6, but could not prevent Nepal coasting to victory, Binod Bhandari steering his side home with an unbeaten 51 from 23 balls including six sixes.

The top three countries in each group will advance to the World Cup proper, to be staged in Bangladesh next year.