Brampton, July 30, 2023: A soggy outfield in Global T20 Canada necessitated a delayed start, limiting the game to six overs a side. At the TD Cricket Arena, the Montreal Tigers defeated the Toronto Nationals by a margin of 23 runs.
Watchers were treated to thrilling action as Chris Lynn and Muhammad Waseem combined for 63 runs, scoring with amazing skill to set up the Montreal Tigers for a commanding victory.
The Tigers bowling attack put on a strong showing, which aided their efforts. In the meantime, a soggy outfield forced the Brampton Wolves and Mississauga Panthers to forfeit their first game of the day, leaving both teams with a point apiece. The Toronto Nationals chose to field first after winning the toss. But Muhammad Waseem (24) and Chris Lynn (38*), the openers, unleashed a torrent of forceful hitting. After two overs of powerplay, the Montreal Tigers led 26/0. The opening pair destroyed Saad Bin Zafar and Zaman Khan, and the second and third overs proved to be quite profitable for the Tigers, as they yielded 35 runs.
Sikandar Raza was shortly removed for eighteen runs, bringing the attack to a close. In the penultimate over, Faheem Ashraf gave the Nationals a relief by dismissing Mohammad Waseem for just 13 runs. Zaman Khan bowled a superb last over, giving up only two runs to restrict the Montreal Tigers at 77/2. Sherfane Rutherford (8) came quickly to join the attack but was out.
Pacer Kaleem Sana’s cunning four-run over hindered the Nationals’ openers, Darren Bravo (15) and JJ Smit (16), as they started their chase. At 19/0 at the end of the two-over powerplay, the Nationals were behind. In his debut game of the tournament, Andre Russell bowled brilliantly to cut the Tigers’ lead to nine runs in the third over and increase the pressure. Despite their good intentions, both openers had trouble setting limits.
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Before Darren Bravo and JJ Smit strategically retired out of the game in rapid succession to make room for Sikandar Raza (7) and captain Hamza Tariq (10), Muhammad Afridi bowled another conservative over, allowing just six runs. Andre Russell gave up just six runs in a tight fifth over of bowling. At 54/2 at the end of the inning, the Nationals were unable to reach the unachievable aim of 37 runs in six balls, allowing the Tigers to win by a commanding 23 runs.
India
