Global T20 Canada: Hits and Misses from Toronto Nationals vs Vancouver Knights

Cricket’s newest franchise-based T20 league made a debut with a bang late on Thursday night as the two competing sides put up 200-plus totals in the inaugural match. Global T20 Canada thus announced its arrival on the scene with some of the biggest stars from around the world in action who put on a show for the fans.

In the first match, tournament favourites Toronto Nationals defeated the Vancouver Knights, chasing down their mammoth total of 227 with four balls to spare. There were power-packed batting performances from both the sides, marred intermittently with technical glitches from the broadcaster that made it a frustrating experience for viewers.

But at the end of the day, the biggest stars did not disappoint and the first match which flagged off Canada’s ambitious cricketing adventure was a resounding success.

Let us take a look at s hits and misses from this game.

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Hit: Anton Devcich

It is not often that you chase 228 for victory in a T20 match easily. Toronto Nationals have their Man of the Match Anton Devcich to thank for as the Kiwi put on a grand spectacle to ensure that his team romps home to victory.

With his 44-ball 92, Devcich treated all opposition bowlers with equal disdain as he unleashed a brutal onslaught. His strokes had amazing power and he executed his shots all around the field, leaving very little option for the bowlers.

The best part of his innings was the fact that he never let the asking rate get beyond reach and saw his team through till the end. His was truly a match-winning knock.

Miss: Chris Gayle

Coming into the match, all eyes were on Chris Gayle as the Vancouver Knights captain was expected to play a leading role for his team. Even at this ripe age, Gayle remains one of the most feared and successful openers in franchise-based T20 leagues around the world.

The big Jamaican did get off to a good start, hitting a couple of lusty blows, but he got dismissed too early to build a suitable foundation for his team. Trying to go after Nikhil Dutta in the fourth over, he miscued a slog and got holed out to long on. Like so many occasions in his career, Gayle flattered to deceive with a quickfire 17 and got out just when he seemed to promise much.

The Knights skipper will be thankful that his early dismissal did not make much of a difference as a power-packed performance from the batting unit more than made up for it. But going forward, he would definitely like to take more responsibility on his shoulders.

Hit: Steve Smith

Going into the tournament, all eyes were on the former Australian skipper Steve Smith who was making a comeback after the ‘Sandpapergate’ controversy. Smith, who is currently serving a year-long ban, would have been impatient to spend time out there in the middle.

There was also considerable pressure on him given the fact that he is one of the biggest names in the tournament. And Smith did not disappoint.

He was middling the ball from the very beginning and walked across his stumps to flick the ball away on the legside with characteristic swagger. He seemed to be in an attacking frame of mind and was not afraid to try out unconventional strokes such as the reverse scoop.

He did get out at the wrong time but his 61 off 41 balls was crucial as he anchored the chase in the middle overs very well.

Miss: Kieron Pollard

Once an important T20 all-rounder, Kieron Pollard has gone through a long phase of indifferent form of late which has left many wondering if his superlative powers are on the decline. Pollard did not do much to answer his naysayers as he failed to do well with bat and ball.

Without pace, Pollard often depends a lot on his variations which unfortunately have not been working well for him. His medium pace was too predictable as his countryman Evin Lewis treated him with disdain and punished him heavily in the slog overs.

He finished with 1 for 37, showing why Mumbai Indians have been so reluctant to bowl him in the IPL. There were no fireworks from his bat either as he got out cheaply, putting his team in a spot of bother. He would be grateful that Devcich and Darren Sammy saw them through in the end.

Hit: Evin Lewis and Andre Russell

When it comes to T20 matches, trust the West Indians to come to the party. Evin Lewis and Andre Russell did not disappoint as they lit up the tournament with a wide array of strokes.

Lewis started punishing the bowlers with effortless ease, hoicking them nonchalantly for gigantic sixes over long on. Though he lost his captain Chris Gayle early on, Lewis soldiered on till the end, laying the foundation of the mammoth total en route to his 96 off 55 balls.

And while Lewis started it, Andre Russell finished it in style. Russell was brutal on the bowlers, continuing from where he had left off in the IPL this year. His power-packed knock of 54 off 20 balls ensured that the Vancouver Knights got a lot more than they had bargained for.

Misses: Mohammad Naveed and Tim Southee

T20 is not a game for bowlers and the first game of the inaugural T20 series in Canada did no harm to that opinion. Bowlers were dispatched all around the ground with effortless disdain as more than 550 runs were scored in 40 overs.

The most expensive bowler of the match was Mohammad Naveed who conceded 60 runs off his four overs and came away wicketless with an economy of 15. He also gave away one no ball and three wides.

While the lack of experience might have worked against Naveed, the same cannot be said about Tim Southee who had an equally bad day at the office. The Kiwi quick conceded 44 runs off his 4 overs and was ineffective at the death as the opposition romped home. It was a disappointing day for Southee and things did not work out well for him.