Global T20 Canada: Toronto Nationals vs. Vancouver Knights Live Score & Commentary

31 sixes in under 40 overs that saw close to 460 runs being scored with nearly 75 % of them in boundaries. You couldn't have asked for a better start to Global T20 Canada 2018. Join us again tomorrow as Montreal Tigers take on Winnipeg Hawks. Until then, this is Srihari, signing off. Ta!

Man of the Match, Anton Devcich: "Was freezing cold back home in New Zealand (about -1 celsius) so what better place to come than Canada. Took me a while to get going but the guys stayed positive throughout and that helped."

Darren Sammy: "That feels good. It turned out to be a great match. Some of the bowlers did bounce a bit but the way we played it was a clinical chase. I thought if we needed 100 in the last 8, we would give it a chance. We put ourselves in good position with myself and Pollard at the end."

Chris Gayle: "Was a good game. Unfortunately on the losing side having scored 226. It was a belter and a small ground as well. A few nerves here and there as it's the first game. It was always going to be a tricky one for bowlers but this is entertainment. Russell came out in the middle and batted superbly."

Toronto Nationals beat Vancouver Knights by six wickets

Toronto Nationals needed a good start if they were to chase 228 and they got that thanks to Johnson Charles as they raced to 55/1 after just overs. After that Steve Smith's fifty laid the foundation and got them close while Anton Devcich continued to keep them in the game with sixes at regular intervals. Eventually he finished with a 44-ball 92 and a late cameo from Sammy, who scored 22 off 10 balls to get them over the line with four balls and six wickets to spare.

19.2 Gordon to Sammy, SIX, and what a way to finish the game. Sammy finishes that with a six over long on. Nationals win by six wickets and with four balls to spare. Devcich's 44-ball 92 was crucial but Sammy's 10-ball 22 was crucial as well as the Nationals 228 with four balls to spare.

19.2 Gordon to Sammy, WIDE down the leg side.

19.1 Gordon to Sammy, no run, Sammy goes for the glory shot to finish the innings with a flourish but he makes no contact with the ball.

Nationals on course for a win but can Devcich get a century? Jeremy Gordon to bowl the final over of the innings.

Toronto Nationals 224/4 from 19 overs. Nationals need four runs to win off six balls.

18.6 Russell to Devcich, SIX, oh what a shot by Devcich who sends a ball out of the stadium. That is the 30th six of the match and arguably the most telling as his insouciant flick off the middle of the bat gets the Nationals within four.

18.5 Russell to Sammy, 1 run, excellent short ball from Russell and even better fielding from Cottrell, who not only stops the boundary with a one-handed pick up but also keeps the batsmen to just one. Sammy's pull yields him just one to deep square leg.

18.4 Russell to Devcich, 1 run, excellent wide yorker from Russell and Devcich just digs that out to sweeper cover for a single to bring Sammy back on strike.

18.3 Russell to Devcich, SIX, slower ball from Russell and Devcich waits for it and he just smashes that over the bowler's head and that is dismissed right into the side screen.

18.2 Russell to Devcich, no run, excellent pace and bounce again from Russell and Devcich lets out a cry of anguish as he feels he misses out as there was width there.

18.1 Russell to Devcich, SIX, what a shot from Devcich. A length ball just outside off and he picks that up drills that over square leg. That brings the Nationals even closer to the target.

18.1 Russell to Devcich, WIDE

Toronto Nationals 203/4 after 18 overs. Nationals need 25 off 12 balls.

17.6 Cottrell to Sammy, SIX, what a shot to finish the over. Excellent bouncer from the bowler but Sammy does well to get enough bat on it to guide that over square leg. That also brings up the 200 for the Nationals.

17.5 Cottrell to Sammy, no run, that was quick and angled across the batsmen. Sammy swings and misses this time.

17.4 Cottrell to Sammy, FOUR, back-to-back boundaries from Sammy who just picks up the length and smashes one over cover and that trickles over the ropes. Just when it looks as if he is missing out, Sammy gets one in the slot

17.3 Cottrell to Sammy, FOUR, Sammy slashes again but gets a thick edge and that just races away to the third man boundary. Much-needed that one for the Nationals as the boundaries seem to have dried up.

17.2 Cottrell to Sammy, no run, Sammy goes for a wild slog over cover but makes no contact with the ball and that is another crucial dot ball from Cottrell.

17.1 Cottrell to Devcich, 1 run, excellent yorker from the bowler and all Devcich can do is dig that out and pick out the fielder at long off.

Toronto Nationals 188/4 after 17 overs. Nationals need 40 runs off 18 balls.

16.6 Russell to Devcich, 1 run, that was very full and wide, Devcich chases after that one and gets that on the bounce to deep point.

16.5 Russell to Devcich, no run, that was another brilliant bouncer from Russell and Devcich is surprised that isn't given as a wide. Instead it is a dot ball and the only bouncer for the over.

16.4 Russell to Sammy, 1 run, another quick one from Russell and Sammy just gets something on it to the leg side and scampers through for a single.

16.3 Russell to Sammy, no run, Russell is generating plenty of pace and bounce here and he is surprising both the keeper and the batsman.

16.2 Russell to Devcich, 1 run, that was slightly short and wide, Devcich just scythes that past point and takes a single to sweeper cover.

Darren Sammy walks in at No.6

16.1 Russell to Pollard, OUT, Russell gets rid of Pollard. He goes for a flick into the leg side but scoops that into the off-side courtesy of a leading edge and Gayle takes a simple catch. Pollard 4 (6) Nationals 185/4

Toronto Nationals 185/3 after 16 overs. Nationals need 43 to win off 24 balls.

15.6 Cottrell to Devcich, no run, excellent yorker from Cottrell to finish the over but the over still went for 14.

15.5 Cottrell to Devcich, FOUR, slower ball on the pads and Devcich just helps it on its way and picks up another boundary. No fielder at deep mid-wicket and that is an easy boundary.

15.4 Cottrell to Pollard, 1 run, that was slightly wide and Pollard just slaps that past point for a single.

15.3 Cottrell to Devcich, 1 legbye, Devcich walks across his stumps and he misses the ball. Cottrell appeals but the umpire says no and they sneak a legbye.

15.2 Cottrell to Devcich, SIX, that was on the pads and Devcich helps it on its way. Southee was interested all along but that just kept going and going and going. Another six for Devcich.

15.2 Cottrell to Devcich, WIDE

15.1 Cottrell to Pollard, 1 run, full toss and Pollard doesn't make the most of that gift as he drills that on the bounce to the fielder at long on.

Toronto Nationals 171/3 after 15 overs. Nationals need 57 runs off 30 balls.

14.6 Southee to Devcich, FOUR, in the form of his life, Devcich. That was full and on the pads and that was placed to perfection. He picked up the slower one and he beats deep mid-wicket and long on.

14.5 Southee to Devcich, no run, excellent yorker from Southee and the batsman does well to dig that out to backward point.

14.4 Southee to Devcich, FOUR, he tries the cut again but this time gets it through the fielder at backward point and short third man. Excellent shot.

14.3 Southee to Devcich, no run, that was just a tad short and he wants to cut that past point but only ends up finding the fielder. No run there.

14.2 Southee to Pollard, 1 run, slightly short and Pollard just guides that to third man for a single.

14.1 Southee to Pollard, no run, full and Pollard drives that firmly to cover.

Pleased to see him back to the game and played classical inning well Played @stevesmith49 mate 🙌🏻👍🏻👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/NQaJKu52kM
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19) June 28, 2018

Toronto Nationals 162/3 after 14 overs.

13.6 Fawad Ahmed to Devcich, SIX, FIFTY for Devcich! He wants to play with house money here. Picks up the wrong one and dances down the track and slots one over long on, against the breeze. His fifty came off just 27 balls.

Global T20 Canada: Toronto Nationals vs. Vancouver Knights Live Score & Commentary

Vancouver Knights 227/4 in 20 overs lost to Toronto Nationals 231/4 in 19.2 overs