Global T20 Canada, Toronto Nationals vs Vancouver Knights: 5 Talking Points

The Global T20 in Canada got off to a rocking start as the Chris Gayle-led side Vancouver Knights (VCK) failed to defend 227 against Darren Sammy’s Toronto Nationals (TTN). Almost 460 runs were scored in the game as the ball kept flying all around.

Powered by Evin Lewis’ powerful 96 and a blazing 54 from Andre Russell, VCK got to 227 after they were put into bat by TTN. While most of the bowlers were taken for plenty of runs, Canada off-spinner Nikhil Dutta was the pick of the bowlers as he had figures of 2/26 in his 4 overs.

Chasing a mammoth 228, TTN lost Nizakat Khan in the first over, but Johnston Charles scored a quickfire 30 before Steve Smith who was playing his first competitive game since being banned by Cricket Australia (CA) contributed very well as he struck a 41-ball 61 before Anton Devcich came out all guns firing and took TTN home with a brutal 92.

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#5 Boundaries galore in the opening game

Toronto Nationals v Vancouver Knights: Global T20 Canada

Flat pitches have become very common all around the globe for limited-overs cricket. Recently, we saw England shatter records to score 481 in an ODI against Australia. They scored 41 fours and 21 sixes in their innings.

It was no different in this opening game of the Global T20 Canada. Throughout the game, to be precise 458 runs were scored and 73% of those runs came in boundaries. VCK scored 13 fours and 19 sixes in their innings with Evin Lewis alone contributing with 5 fours and 10 sixes.

On the other hand, TTN went a step ahead as they outscored VCK in the boundary count as they hit 22 fours and 12 sixes.

#4 Evin Lewis blazes away but misses out on ton

Evin Lewis during the ICC World XI v West Indies T20

Put into bat by TTN, VCK got off to a good start as skipper Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis started well as they scored 30 in the first 3 overs before Gayle was sent packing by offspinner Nikhil Dutta. Even Lewis who was in decent touch during the IPL continued his good run as he scored a 55-ball 96.

He started off by hitting a four and a six in the first over and then after Gayle’s departure, he continued the good start as he got to 24 in 15 balls at the end of the powerplay. After the powerplay was done, Lewis started a six-hitting spree as he struck 10 sixes (out of which 9 came after the 7-over mark) in his 55-ball innings.

He shared two 50+ partnerships with Rassie van der Dussen and Andre Russell for the 3rd and 4th wicket respectively as he drove VCK to a huge score. However, as it seemed that Lewis would get to the inevitable ton, he fell trying to loft one over cover. Nonetheless, it was a brilliant knock as it gave VCK the perfect start.

#3 Andre Russell’s 31-run over and 20-ball 54

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Andre Russell who had a decent impact in for Kolkata Knight Riders in the recently concluded IPL was at his brutal best in this opening game of the Global T20. He scored a brutal 20-ball 54 to help VCK get to 227 in their 20 overs.

Coming out to bat in the 14th over, Russell got going with a top-edge boundary before he went berserk. In the 17th over of the innings, he fetched 31 runs as he struck 4 sixes and 1 four. The over started with Russell getting out caught at long-off on a no-ball. The next delivery which was a free-hit was a wide.

Russell then hit the free-hit for a huge six over long-on. There was a dot ball on the second ball before Russell struck 3 massive sixes (1 over long-on and 2 over mid-wicket) and 1 four as UAE pacer Mohammad Naveed was taken to the cleaners.

Russell continued his assault as he got to fifty in just 19 balls and eventually ended with 54. He also dismissed Kieron Pollard during his stint with the ball to cap off a good game.

#2 Steve Smith scores an excellent half-century on return

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Steve Smith has been facing a lot of flak after the ball-tampering fiasco that took place in March in Cape Town earlier this year. He’s been facing a lot of criticism and receiving quite a bit of hostile comments from the media, fans and from all corners.

But to his credit, Smith put all his off-field distractions and made an excellent return to competitive cricket as he scored a fluent and a good 41-ball 61. Walking out to bat on the 5th ball of the innings, Smith began in typical fashion as he got off the mark with a good-looking drive down the ground as he fetched a single.

He got his first boundary in the second over as he caressed one through the covers. Smith did look a touch scratchy, struggling for timing at times for the few deliveries. But as the innings wore on, he looked fluent and in sync. He got his half-century in 34 deliveries and ended up with a fluent 61. He shared a 91-run stand with Anton Devcich and also scored 8 fours and 1 six in his 41-ball stay at the crease.

It was a very good return to action for the former Australian captain.

#1 Anton Devcich’s 92 drives TTN home on a day to forget for the bowlers

TTN had gotten off to a flying start as Johnston Charles scored a 12-ball 30 and Steve Smith also had a good start. But the arrival of Anton Devcich just continued the momentum and the carnage. Devcich got going in the 7th over as he struck a couple of fours and a six.

He then continued the attack and got to fifty in just 27 deliveries. Even after the dismissal of Smith, he kept going and ended up scoring an unbeaten 44-ball 92. Darren Sammy also contributed towards the end with a quickfire cameo as TTN chased down a mammoth target of 228.

It was a day to forget for the bowlers as most of them were taken to the cleaners. Nikhil Dutta was the only bowler who had an economy of less than 9. Fawad Ahmed was the most economical bowler for VCK as he gave away 35 runs in his 4 overs. Even experienced bowlers like Tim Southee, Andre Russell and Kesrick Williams were taken for plenty of runs.

But it was an excellent start to Global T20 in Canada.