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.
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.
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.
17.4 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.
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.
16.1 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
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.
15.3 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.
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.
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.
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