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In the first ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 match USA VS CANADA, the USA beat Canada by seven wickets. Aaron Jones scored an unbeaten 94 runs from just 40 balls, including 10 sixes and four fours. He really showed his power-hitting skills.
Andries Gous also played a big part, scoring 65 runs. Thanks to their efforts, the USA easily chased down the target set by Canada. This win gave the USA a strong start in the tournament, showing their potential and good teamwork.
The USA won the toss and elected to bowl first: USA VS CANADA
Aaron Johnson got Canada off to a great start by hitting the first ball of the match for a boundary through extra cover, immediately putting pressure on the USA bowlers. Navneet Dhaliwal’s partner kept the momentum going with a boundary in the next over, showing both openers were ready to attack.
But it was Johnson who took charge. He went after USA’s Ali Khan in the third over, hitting three boundaries. These early runs gave Canada a strong start and built momentum, signalling they were aiming for a big score. Johnson’s confident batting boosted his team’s morale and put the USA’s bowlers on the back foot right from the beginning.
Harmeet Singh’s delivery was crucial as he dismissed the dangerous Johnson. Johnson tried to hit the right-arm spinner but got caught deep by Nitish Kumar, giving the USA an important breakthrough. Soon after, the hosts grabbed another wicket when Pargat Singh was run out due to some quick fielding.
After these setbacks, Navneet Dhaliwal took charge of Canada, getting solid support from Nicholas Kirton. Together, they focused on rebuilding Canada’s innings, ensuring they didn’t lose momentum. Dhaliwal showed his batting skills by reaching the first half-century of the match in the 12th over, adding stability to the Canadian innings by contributing 61 off 44.
As the innings went on, Dhaliwal kept up the pressure, hitting a six and a four off Shadley van Schalkwyk to increase the run rate. Kirton also played his part, contributing important runs and forming a partnership that kept Canada’s hopes alive.
Following Anderson’s entry into the game for the USA, his immediate impact was notable. He efficiently dismissed Dhaliwal with his first delivery, setting a tone of precision and control. Anderson’s seasoned approach to bowling posed a challenge for the Canadian batsmen.
In the crucial 18th over, Anderson’s skilful catch saw the end of Nicholas Kirton’s innings, further consolidating the USA’s position. This pivotal moment in the match underscored Anderson’s ability to disrupt the opposition’s momentum.
As the innings progressed, Shreyas Movva (32* from 16 balls) and Dilpreet Bajwa (11 from 5 balls) played vital roles for Canada. Their aggressive batting in the final overs proved instrumental, contributing significantly to Canada’s total of 35 runs in the last two overs with a final score of 194/5.
This late surge provided Canada with a competitive edge and posed a target of 195 for the USA’s batting lineup in the upcoming innings.
A Good Start By Canadian Bowlers: USA VS CANADA
Canada’s left-arm fast bowler Kaleem Sana kicked off the game with a bang, making a crucial early breakthrough by dismissing Steve Taylor for a duck. This gave Canada a great start and put them in a promising position from the outset. Andries Gous then teamed up with Monank Patel, their goal clear: to ramp up the run rate with aggressive stroke play.
Canada’s disciplined bowling effort paid off as they quickly claimed another wicket with Monank’s dismissal. Despite facing a steady stream of deliveries, Monank managed to accumulate 16 runs before eventually getting caught out while facing Dillon Heyliger.
Nikhil Dutta’s Over Became A Turning Point In The Match: USA VS CANADA
After the 19-run over against Nikhil Dutta both Andries Gous and Aaron Jones played pivotal roles in ramping up the USA’s run rate. Their partnership ensured a steady flow of runs, allowing the USA to elevate their total from 81/2 to 126/3 in the span of just 3 overs.
Jones, especially, demonstrated his exceptional power-hitting prowess by smashing three sixes off Saad’s bowling in the 13th over, achieving the fastest T20 half-century for the USA in just 22 balls.
Brutal Attack By Jones And Gous: USA VS CANADA
Gous reached his fifty all by himself in the subsequent over. Then, during Gordon’s over, he hammered straight to Dilpreet. However, there was a moment of nervousness as the fast bowler had overstepped, resulting in a no-ball. Jones took full advantage of the free hit and smashed another six in the following over. Together, they managed to accumulate 100 runs in just 45 balls.
After a solid innings of 65, Gous eventually got out, but until then, the USA was in a commanding position. Jones remained unbeaten on 94* off 40 balls, steering the USA to victory by seven wickets with a total of 197/3.
WHAT. A. CHASE!! 🤩🙌#TeamUSA wins their opening match of the @ICC @T20WorldCup against Canada by 7 wickets! 💪#T20WorldCup | #USAvCAN | #WeAreUSACricket 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/y1qgGO68d9
— USA Cricket (@usacricket) June 2, 2024