Global T20 Canada, Vancouver Knights vs Toronto Nationals, 17th Match, Round 2: 5 Talking Points

The Chris Gayle-led Vancouver Knights rolled over Toronto Nationals as they beat the Darren Sammy-led by a comfortable 8 wicket margin to ascend to the top of the points table.

After being put into bat, none of the TTN batsmen showed any resistance as they kept losing wickets and eventually were bowled out for 103. Steve Smith was the top-scorer with 35 while Kamran Akmal and Darren Sammy were the other two batsmen who made it to double figures.

It was a complete bowling performance from the Knights. Andre Russell and Fawad Ahmed shared three wickets apiece and the others chipped in as well.

Chasing a modest 104, Chris Gayle didn’t open the batting and it was the pair of Chadwick Walton and Ben Dunk that walked out. The former struck an unbeaten 54 which took the Knights home with ease.

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#5 Johnson Charles continues to struggle

Johnson Charles just hasn’t been able to get going in this Global T20 Canada tournament. He has scored just 65 runs in 6 innings and has a highest score of 30 which came in the first game of the tournament.

He has failed to give the Nationals a good start at the top and more often than not, he is dismissed quite early in the powerplay which puts pressure on the other batsmen. In this game, he bagged a first-ball duck as he edged one to gully off Tim Southee in the first over of the game.

This was his second consecutive duck and fourth single-digit score (out of 6 innings) in this tournament. Hence, it was a pretty poor season for the 29-year-old Windies opener.

#4 Chadwick Walton brushes aside the paltry target with an unbeaten 54

CRICKET-PAK-WIS

Chadwick Walton hadn’t had a great tournament until this game. He had scored just 26 runs in 4 innings and was clearly struggling. Hence, chasing a modest total, Chris Gayle decided to vacate the opening slot and Walton walked out to open the batting and struck an unbeaten 54 taking the Knights home in an easy chase.

He got going by hitting Usama Mir for three back-to-back fours in the 3rd over. He then struck three consecutive sixes off Steve Smith in the 12th over to raise his fifty in 35 balls. It was a happy return to form for the Windies wicket-keeper as he grabbed his opportunity at the top of the order brilliantly.

#3 All-round show from the VCK bowlers

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It was all Vancouver Knights in the game and not for a moment did it look like they were on the backfoot. Tim Southee gave them the early breakthrough as he dismissed Johnson Charles in the first over. Kamran Akmal and Steve Smith did threaten to take the game away as they scored a few boundaries up front.

But once that partnership was dislodged, there was no turning back for the Knights. Every bowler chipped in and contributed. Sheldon Cottrell who was a touch expensive dismissed Kamran Akmal. Andre Russell came in and picked a three-fer including key wickets of Anton Devcich and Steve Smith.

Fawad Ahmed also chipped with 3 wickets which included the ones of Kieron Pollard and Darren Sammy. Saad Bin Zafar also took a couple of wickets, rounding off an excellent bowling performance.

#2 Only 3 TTN batsmen reach double figures

Toronto Nationals v Winnipeg Hawks: Global T20 Canada

Johnson Charles was dismissed on the fourth ball of the first over. But Kamran Akmal and Steve Smith steadied the ship as they shared a 34-run stand which came in just 20 deliveries. Smith struck three boundaries while Akmal hit a couple of fours and a six.

But the wicket of Akmal started a slide and that went on until the Nationals were bowled out. The Pakistan wicket-keeper batsman was out for 19 and the next 4 wickets fell in the space of 4.3 overs for just 21 runs. And it was Smith who did the bulk of the scoring even in this phase.

Sammy tried sticking around with the former Aussie skipper but the latter fell trying to rotate as he chipped one back to Russell trying to turn one to the leg-side.

The Nationals skipper struck a couple of lusty blows but once he was dismissed the writing was on the wall. TTN were eventually all out for 103 and they didn’t even last the full 20 overs as they faced just 16.5 overs.

#1 TTN’s poor season ends while VCK ascend to the top

Toronto Nationals v Vancouver Knights: Global T20 Canada

When Toronto Nationals chased down 228 in the first game of the tournament, it seemed like they were one of the teams to beat. They had a good, strong batting line-up and a decent bowling attack. However, things have not gone according to plan for the Darren Sammy-led side as they have just 2 wins in their 6 games.

None of their losses were close games and most of the other teams managed to get comprehensive victories over them. They lost thrice by 8 wickets and once by 56 runs. Hence, it was not the tournament that Sammy and co would’ve hoped for.

On the other hand, Vancouver Knights have been on a roll. Since losing that first game to Toronto Nationals, they’ve not looked back and have been unbeaten since. They’ve had comfortable and comprehensive wins in most of their games and by virtue of a win in this game, they have climbed to the top of the points table and will now face the West Indies B in the playoffs.