Global T20 Canada, Winnipeg Hawks vs Edmonton Royals, Eliminator: 5 Talking Points

After a cracking and a nail-biting first Qualifier earlier in the day, Winnipeg Hawks chased down 184 to knock Edmonton Royals in a game where the fortunes swung just one way, especially during the chase. Winnipeg Hawks might have taken the game to the final over but they were largely in control of the chase.

The trend of bowling first continued as Winnipeg Hawks skipper David Warner won the toss and inserted Edmonton Royals into bat first. The top 3 helped the Royals get off to a rousing start but an excellent comeback and pulled it back nicely in the last 10 overs which helped the Hawks restrict EDR to 183 in their 20 overs. The middle-order once again couldn’t get going and Rayad Emrit registered a four-wicket haul with other bowlers chipping in.

Chasing 184 in a knockout game, the Hawks looked in total command. David Warner and Lendl Simmons shared 76-run opening stand. Warner struck his first fifty of the tournament and Ben McDermott scored an unbeaten 39-ball 65 to take WPH home. Barring skipper Sohail Tanvir, most of the EDR bowlers were expensive and lacked any sort of control and penetration.

Winnipeg Hawks now face Vancouver Knights in the second Qualifier.

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#5 David Warner returns to his fluent best

Warner scored his first fifty of the tournament.

All eyes have been on David Warner in this Global T20 Canada. In the first round of this tournament, he registered 5 straight single-digit scores. He was also made the captain of the Winnipeg Hawks as Dwayne Bravo left the tournament mid-way through.

In this game, the Hawks were in pursuit of 184 and needed a good start. David Warner provided that start as he scored a very good 36-ball 55. He looked in good touch and he did show that he was returning to his fluent best. In his 36-ball knock, he struck 5 fours and 4 sixes.

It was a typical Warner innings where he was severe on anything short and also scored quite a few runs through the off-side. His 55 set-up the chase for the Hawks.

#4 Agha Salman top scores for the third successive time for the Royals

Agha Salman registered his third successive 40+ score.

Agha Salman has had a very good tournament. He ended this Global T20 Canada as the highest run-getter for the Edmonton Royals. And for three consecutive games, he has top scored and all three have been against the Hawks.

First, he scored a superb 73 which helped EDR chase down 204. He followed this up with a 43 which came in a losing cause in the last game. In this game, he once again looked in fabulous touch and struck an 18-ball 44.

Walking into bat at the end of the 5th over, Salman continued the momentum that was built by openers Luke Ronchi and Andre Fletcher. He hit 2 fours and 2 sixes off back-to-back deliveries in the 10th over that gave EDR’s run-rate a big boost. However, he was dismissed to a short ball which he could have hit it anywhere. But his 44 gave the Royals the impetus and momentum which they failed to build on.

#3 Rayad Emrit’s 4/28 derails the Royals

New Zealand v West Indies - 3rd T20

EDR got off to a flying start as they scored 49 in the first four overs. Windies all-rounder Rayad Emrit was introduced into the attack in the 5th over and was greeted with a six. He came back strongly in that over as he got rid of Luke Ronchi off the last ball. Ronchi edged one to the keeper and was out for 25.

Emrit then took 2 wickets in his third over as he dismissed Shaiman Anwar and Farhaan Behardien took help the Hawks claw their way back in the game. After the top 3 had set it up, Anwar and Behardien shared a good 26-run stand and EDR looked good for 200. But Emrit struck twice getting rid of both these batsmen.

The 37-year-old then got the wicket of Kevin O Brien in his final over and finished with figures of 4/28 in his 4 overs.

#2 EDR manage just 71 runs in the back 10

First innings wickets highlights. #WHvER #6sInThe6ix #GT20Canada pic.twitter.com/wweUGCCsSr

— GT20 Canada (@GT20Canada) July 12, 2018

The top three - Luke Ronchi, Agha Salman and Andre Fletcher were very good at the top. They scored 113 in the first 10 overs. They went after the bowling and 200 looked a certainty.

However, the wickets of Agha Salman and Andre Fletcher in the space of two balls turned the tables. Salman fell for 44 trying to clear deep mid-wicket while Fletcher was run out for 41. After these two quick wickets, the Hawks tightened the screws and didn’t allow the Royals batsmen to get away.

They kept the pressure on in the last 10 overs, keeping the run-rate under check. Rayad Emrit took 4/28 while Lendl Simmons, Ali Khan and Fidel Edwards chipped in one wicket apiece. The Royals managed to score just 71 runs in the last 10 overs which proved to be the difference in the end.

#1 Ben McDermott’s unbeaten 65 helps the Hawks to advance to the second Qualifier

Splendid knock!!! @benmcdermott100 #WHvER #6sInThe6ix #GT20Canada pic.twitter.com/JviBX0k4RS

— GT20 Canada (@GT20Canada) July 12, 2018

David Warner and Lendl Simmons helped the Hawks get off to a good start in their chase of 184. Simmons scored 33 off 22 balls which included 3 fours and 3 sixes. But he fell trying to guide a short delivery to third man off Kevin O Brien.

At 76/1, Ben McDermott walked in. Warner was looking good and was off to a start as well. The former didn’t let the momentum dip as he continued from where Simmons left off. He did get off to a slow start where he scored just 11 off 16 balls. But he struck 3 sixes and a four in the 13th over to get going.

Despite losing Warner in the very next over, McDermott continued to belt the bowlers around and brought up his fifty in 28 deliveries. His big hitting reduced the equation to 17 of the last 3 overs. He was then content rotating the strike and took the Hawks home in the final over. He was also awarded the Man of the Match for his unbeaten knock of 65.