The second round of the Global T20 Canada was completed on Wednesday (July 11, 2018) when Winnipeg Hawks beat Edmonton Royals in the game between the third and fourth placed teams from the first round, the round robin phase. The Hawks and Royals retained a hold on third and fourth places in the standings so will play again this afternoon (4pm) at Maple Leaf Cricket Club, King City, Ontario. This afternoon’s game is an eliminator with the losing team dropping out of the hunt to capture the inaugural Global T20 Canada championship.
The morning game (11 am) is a battle for a place in Sunday’s final between Vancouver Knights and West Indies B. Vancouver Knights ended West Indies B’s streak of four wins in the first round and Windies B then lost to Montreal Tigers in the second round. This success was insufficient to keep Montreal Tigers in the championship hunt. The tournament is over for the Tigers and Toronto Nationals.
On Wednesday, Edmonton Royals was bowled out for 141 all out after 19.5 overs. Windies pacer Fidel Edwards took 4 wickets for 19 runs from 3.5 overs and was later named Man of the Match Royals had runs up the top of the order from Ahgan Salman with 43 from 34 balls and 30 off 25 balls by Abraash Khan who played for Canada in the 20014 and 2016 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cups. Abraash captained Canada u19s in 2016. UAE’s Shaiman Anwar clipped 28 runs from 22 balls and opener Luke Rochi, a dual Aussie-Kiwi international, made 15.
Lendl Simmons picked up 2/18 from 3 overs and Hiral Patel took 2/32 from 4 overs. Hiral Patel was the number one pick in Canada’s TJT National League back in 2009 when Canada U19s qualified for the 2010 U19 CWC and he hit 50 against Australia in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Nitish Kumar (Toronto Nationals) and Ruvindu Gunasekera (Vancouver Knights) also played for Canada in the 2010 ICC U19 CWC and in the 2011 ICC CWC.
On Wednesday, Lendl Simmons provided spark in the early going for the Winnipeg Hawks until forced to retire hurt after scoring 38 from 28 balls. Ben McDermott came in and made 19 before being first out with 90 on the board. David Warner was out at 124 for 2 after striking 42 from 35 balls before the Hawks sealed victory at 142/2 after 16.4 overs.
Chris Gayle lead the way with 63 for the Knights in the first round against West Indies B. Vancouver Knights 175/4 helped by left-arm seamer Sheldon Cottrell tipped the scales against the up and coming young West Indians. Cottrell was named Man of the Match with 4/19 from 4 overs in a game where West Indies B was out for 140.
There’s a lot at stake in both of today’s games. Windies B would love to come back and beat Vancouver Knights but the Knights will be seeking a repeat of that round 1 success. Perhaps these two teams will lock horns for a third time in Sunday’s final but Winnipeg Hawks and Edmonton Royals will also be looking to capture the inaugural Global T20 Canada crown. (EN)