{"id":11624,"date":"2018-06-29T16:11:32","date_gmt":"2018-06-29T19:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/?p=11624"},"modified":"2018-06-29T16:11:32","modified_gmt":"2018-06-29T19:41:32","slug":"global-t20-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/?p=11624","title":{"rendered":"Global T20 opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

There’s no shortage of coverage in the media of th Global T20 opener- and we have our own report below. From a Canadian point of view the highlight was Nikhil Dutta’s bowling, showing he can perform at the top level with an economical spell, and two wickets, including Chris Gayle.
\nOther coverage:
\nAfridi heads to Canada – The News<\/a>
\nSteve Smith hits half century on surreal return to cricket in Canada – The Guardian<\/a>
\nToronto Star coverage<\/a>
\nSydney Morning Herald coverage<\/a><\/p>\n

Toronto Nationals pick up first win at Global T20 Canada
\nBy Ravi Madholall in Toronto
\nToronto Nationals snagged an exciting six-wicket win over Vancouver Knights on Thursday as the 2018 and inaugural Global T20 Canada tournament commenced at Maple Leaf ground, King City, Toronto.
\nSet a formidable 231 for victory from the allotment of 20-overs, the Nationals surpassed the target in the final over thanks to a splendid effort from middle-order number-4 batsman Anton Devcich, who caressed six sixes and ten fours in his unbeaten 92.
\nHe was admirably supported by suspended Australia skipper Steve Smith who fashioned an impressive half-century (61) and the two also shared a steady 89-run third-wicket stand.
\nOpener Johnson Charles set up a solid foundation by making 30 before fall victim to spinner Saad Bin Zafar while Nizakat Khan (06) was bowled comprehensively by New Zealand\u2019s fast-bowler Tim Southee.
\nAfter Smith was departed, the fluent Devcich continued to flourish with boundaries as he played several effortless shots over the ropes and partnered with skipper Darren Sammy to seal the deal on a lively pitch.
\nSammy quickly smacked two fours and two sixes from ten deliveries to score 22 not out while Devcich, the former New Zealand cricketer, faced 44 balls during his occupation at the crease.
\nEarlier, Vancouver Knights took first strike at the invitation of Toronto Nationals but lost their captain and star-batsman Chris Gayle for 17.
\nHowever, Trinidadian and Gayle\u2019s opening companion Evis Lewis flayed the attack to all parts of the park by striking a belligerent 96 laced with ten sixes and five fours from 55 balls while Andre Russell also showed great aggression by contributing an attractive 54 not out.
\nHe Vander Dussen chipped in with 25. Spinner Nikhil Dutta, who got the initial break-through, finished with 2-26 from his maximum four overs.
\nMeanwhile at the presentation ceremony just after the conclusion of the match, Devcich was named player-of-the-match. Victorious leader Sammy stated that the win was clinical. \u201cThe way Smith and Charles went after the chase, was clinical. I thought if we needed 100 off the last 8 it was good for us. We went way better than that,\u201d the St. Lucian-born Sammy related.
\nGayle also spoke at the post-match ceremony citing it was a good start to this tournament alluding to the fact that over 500 runs scored.
\n\u201cIt was a good game. This is what we asked for. In the first game, you always look to assess. Few nerves here and there. This pitch is going to be a tricky one for the bowlers. It’s good to see Evin among the runs.
\nThe action continues on Friday at the same venue with one match being scheduled. Montreal Tigers looking to roar against Winnipeg Hawks from 16:00hrs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There’s no shortage of coverage in the media of th Global T20 opener- and we have our own report below. From a Canadian point of view the highlight was Nikhil Dutta’s bowling, showing he can perform at the top level with an economical spell, and two wickets, including Chris Gayle. Other coverage: Afridi heads to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[31],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11624"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11624"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11624\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11625,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11624\/revisions\/11625"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11624"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11624"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.canadacricket.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11624"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}