The inaugural season of Global T20 Canada concluded on July 15 with Chris Gayle led Vancouver Knights clinching the title with a seven-wicket win over West Indies B. Saad Bin Zafar’s unbeaten 48-ball 79 turned helped the Knights to take the game home with 15 balls to spare in reply to West Indies B’s 145 all out in 17.4 overs.
Zafar smashed eight boundaries and three sixes in his match-winning innings. He came into bat when the Knights were reduced to 22-3. He joined Rassie van der Dussen at the crease and the duo caused a typhoon with their bat.
Zafar and van der Dussen stitched a 126-run partnership for the fourth wicket, advancing Vancouver to 100-3 in 13.1 overs with the run-rate down to one-a-ball.
Earlier in the game, West Indies B struggled enormously against Vancouver’s bowling attack. Fabian Allen provided the only serious resistance with a 23-ball 41, including three fours and three sixes
Jamaican speedster Sheldon Cottrel turned out to be the highest wicket-taker as he claimed 4-29 in his quota of 4 overs. Leggie Fawad Ahmed struck thrice and leaked 24 runs.
It was the first T20 league held in Canada which brought a bunch of great modern era cricketers on a single platform. Moreover, it gave a chance to former Australian skipper Steve Smith and vice-captain in Tests, David Warner to make their comebacks in competitive cricket after being slapped with 12-month bans following the ball-tampering scandal.
Brief scores:
CWI B 145 in 17.4 overs (Fabian Allen 41; Sheldon Cottrell 4-29, Fawad Ahmed 3-24)
LOST TO
Vancouver Knights 148/3 in 17.3 overs (Saad Bin Zafar 79*, Rassie van der Dussen 44*; Derval Green 2-20)
by 7 wickets.