IN the tournament opener in Texas, co-hosts USA triumphed over Canada by seven wickets, thanks to a brutal unbeaten 94 from Aaron Jones. The T20 World Cup match, held at the Grand Prairie Stadium, saw Jones lead the charge with a stellar performance that left the fans in a frenzy.
Coming off a 2-1 series win over Bangladesh and a 4-0 thrashing of Canada in April, the USA entered the match with high confidence. However, the game seemed balanced before Jones, born in Queens, New York to Barbadian parents, turned the tide in favour of the home side. Chasing Canada’s 194-5, Jones played a dazzling knock off just 40 balls, targeting the short boundaries of the former baseball ground, once home to the Texas Air Hogs.
Jones hit ten sixes and energisesd the crowd. Only Chris Gales has scored as many in T20 World Cup innings. His innings gained momentum when, with the US needing 36 off 35 balls, as Nikhil Dutta dropped a simple catch at short third. Capitalising on this reprieve, the 29-year-old steered the US to victory with 14 balls to spare, aided by Andries Gous’s solid 65 off 46 balls.
Earlier, Canada had set a challenging target with Aaron Johnson (23) and Navneet Dhaliwal (61) providing a strong start. Nicholas Kirton’s 51 off 31 balls and late contributions from wicketkeeper Shreyas Movva (32 not out) helped boost the total. This match held historical significance, echoing the first international cricket match between USA and Canada in 1844, although this modern encounter showcased a vibrant blend of South Asian and Caribbean talents reflecting the demographics of the two nations.
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The crowd of over 5,000, predominantly from South Asian and Caribbean backgrounds, witnessed a thrilling spectacle. American spectators, including curious newcomers to cricket. Unique memorabilia, like T-shirts featuring former US president Abraham Lincoln in cricket gear, was also avaialable.
Safety warnings in Spanish, “Este Alerta! Cuidado con las pelotas que salen del terreno de juego” (Be alert! Watch for balls leaving the field of play), proved prudent as Jones sent balls flying beyond the boundary. His powerful stroke play included a towering 99-meter six that sailed out of the ground.
Despite being behind the required run rate at the halfway mark of their innings, the USA, with Jones at the helm, achieved a record chase at the Grand Prairie Stadium. The highest successful chase in last year’s inaugural Major League Cricket season was 158, and the US had never chased more than 169 in a T20 international before this game.
With this victory under their belt, the USA play Pakistan on Thursday, while Canada will face Ireland on Friday.
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