If West Indies believed that their cricketing fortunes could only get better, then perhaps they ought to think again. After the senior team had succumbed to New Zealand for first time ever in a home series, their A team have gone several notches worse, losing out to the minnows of Canada in a three-match one-day series. It has been a miserable week for the West Indians. On Friday, they were served a warning in the opening match of the rubber, at Ajax CC in Toronto. Despite restricting Canada to 172, they collapsed in a heap against the unassuming offspin of John Davison (who took 4 for 36) and wound up 49 runs adrift, with just two batsmen passing 20. Though they put things right - more or less - two days later at Ross Lord Park, also in Toronto, they still made hard work of a modest target of 126, and were under no illusions as they travelled north for the decider, at Maple Leaf CC - aptly-named as it turned out.

Injuries may have restricted West Indies to just 12 fit men, but their side - which has just completed a six-week tour of England - was not short of talent. Captained by Daren Ganga, they had six full internationals at their disposal, including Ryan Hinds, a promising allrounder, and Reon King, who remains a force despite his poor showing on the 2000 tour of England.

But you would hardly have known it judging by the West Indian batting performances. For the third time in a row their top-order failed, slumping to 39 for 3, and they only reached 204 thanks to some overdue good sense from Dwayne Bravo (45) and Gareth Breese, who top-scored with 68.

In reply, Canada slumped to 12 for 3, and the game seemed to be in the bag as Nick de Groot and Ishwar Maraj crawled to 56 for 3 in the 24th over. But it was a solid platform, and with four overs remaining, Canada needed a tantalising 20 runs for victory. Their captain, Joe Harris, sealed the match - and the series - with four balls remaining.

Canada, who qualified for next year's World Cup by pipping Scotland in the third-place play-off at last year's ICC Trophy, will be buoyed by this result. Their last - and only - appearance on the world stage came in 1979, when their most memorable contribution was a total of 45 all out against England at Old Trafford. On this showing, they are set to make a rather more auspicious impact second time around. In the meantime, the teams reconvene for a two-day match at The Toronto Cricket, Skating and Curling Club. We all knew West Indies cricket was skating on thin ice, but this is ridiculous.

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd