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The ongoing Global T20 Canada 2023 is approaching its business end with only a handful games left to be played. On Friday, two crucial matches – Qualifier 1 and Eliminator – took place. While Surrey Jaguars faced Vancouver Knights in the Qualifier 1, Brampton Wolves took on Montreal Tigers in the Eliminator.
Surrey Jaguars secure final berth
Speaking about Qualifier 1, Surrey Jaguars secured a resounding victory against Vancouver Knights and booked a ticked to the tournament’s final. Electing to bowl first, Vancouver Knights aimed to restrict the opposition, but Surrey Jaguars put up a competitive total on the board.
Surrey Jaguars started steadily, with their top order contributing valuable runs. Mohammad Haris (20 off 15) and Jatinder Singh (15 off 13) laid the foundation, while Litton Das (16 off 19) provided a decent start.
However, it was Iftikhar Ahmed‘s splendid knock of 36 runs off 28 balls and Ayaan Khan‘s quickfire 29 off 20 deliveries that powered the innings to a challenging total. They finished their 20 overs at 139/9, setting a target that Vancouver Knights needed to chase down to secure their spot in the finals.
Chasing 140 for victory, Vancouver Knights stumbled right from the start as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Fabian Allen fought a lone battle, displaying some aggressive stroke-play to score 27 runs off 20 balls. However, wickets continued to fall at the other end, and the pressure eventually got the better of them. Vancouver Knights were bowled out for 101 runs in 16.4 overs, falling short by 38 runs.
Matthew Forde was the star performer for Surrey Jaguars, proving to be the difference-maker with an exceptional bowling spell. He claimed four crucial wickets for just 16 runs in his 2.4 overs, earning him the well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award. Despite losing, Vancouver Knights will have another chance to make it to the finals in the second Qualifier.
Montreal Tigers set up Qualifier 2 clash with Vancouver Knights
In the Eliminator, Montreal Tigers outperformed Brampton Wolves in a dominant fashion to secure a convincing victory and move one step closer to the title. They will now meet Vancouver Knights in the second Qualifier, scheduled to take place on Saturday.
Put to bat, Wolves’ batting struggled to find momentum and build partnerships. Aaron Johnson‘s resilient knock of 31 runs off 25 balls and Colin de Grandhomme‘s 20 runs off 20 deliveries were the only notable contributions. Wolves could only muster 104 runs before being bowled out in their allotted 20 overs.
Montreal Tigers bowlers put up an excellent collective effort, with Carlos Brathwaite and Ayan Khan leading the charge, picking up two wickets each. Abbas Afridi and Dipendra Singh Airee provided crucial breakthroughs as well, restricting Brampton Wolves to a below-par total.
Chris Lynn exhibits brilliant firework
Chasing a modest target of 105 runs, Montreal Tigers’ opening pair laid a solid foundation. Waseem Muhammad scored 23 runs off 24 balls, setting the stage for the explosive Chris Lynn. Lynn, the star of the show, displayed his class with a brilliant innings of 63 runs off 47 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. His aggressive stroke-play ensured the momentum stayed firmly with the Tigers.
Srimantha Wijeratne (15 off 15) provided valuable support to Lynn as they cruised towards the target with ease. Montreal Tigers reached 108/1 in just 14.2 overs, sealing a comfortable 9-wicket victory and securing their spot in the next round. The explosive innings of 63 runs off 47 balls by Lynn earned him the well-deserved ‘Player of the Match’ award for his match-winning performance.
