DALLAS: In the opening game against Canada, USA batsman Aaron Jones ignited the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and accomplished a remarkable achievement with a furious 94-run knock, propelling his team to a resounding victory here at Grand Prairie Stadium on Saturday.
He blasted ten sixes in his undefeated innings of 94 off 40, making history as the second batsman in a T20 World Cup competition to hit ten or more after West Indies great Chris Gayle.
Against South Africa in the 2007 T20 World Cup, the West Indian hit 10 sixes. Gayle, on the other hand, now owns the record for most sixes in a T20 World Cup match after hitting 11 against England in 2016.
The USA, who are co-hosting the event with the West Indies, was supposed to chase 195, which they accomplished with 14 balls remaining. With the USA needing 153 from 81 balls when Jones went to bat, he and Andries Gous turned things around, as Jones scored 131 runs for the third wicket in just 58 balls.
Jones, who hit seven boundaries and three sixes in a 46-ball 65, controlled the partnership as he clobbered Canadian bowlers all over the field. Following Gous’ removal, Jones carried on his assault, finishing the match in the 18th over with a huge six over the deep midwicket boundary.
USA WIN BY SEVEN WICKETS!
The game is quickly concluded by the amazing Aaron Jones. After palming the ball over the rope by the fielder, he reverse-sweeps Dutta for four, slog-sweeps the next ball for six, and completes the feat with another slog-sweep. What a fantastic inning!
Canada Batting
15th over: (Kirton 39, Movva 2) for Canada, 137-3. Kirton gloves a leg-side pull for four, and Anderson nearly completes a spectacular run-out with his own bowling. Kirton returned for two after forcing the ball into the space at midwicket. Anderson grabbed the ball off the slide, spun, and struck the stumps at the non-striker’s end since there were no fielders in the area. While it kept an eye on things in real time, replays showed that Movva was safe at home.
16th over: Canada 149-3 in the 16th over (Kirton 45, Movva 8) The USA won’t be concerned just yet because this pitch appears to be really strong, but they will not want Canada to approach 200.
17th over: Canada 155-3 in the 17th over (Kirton 50, Movva 9) Anderson plays a slower ball that fools Kirton, who pulls it inches short of Jasdeep and charges in.
WINCKET! Canada 159–4 (Ali Khan 51; Kirton, Anderson)
Canada is heading in the wrong direction. The important guy, Kirton, lofted an easy catch off Ali Khan’s bowling to Anderson at extra cover. He was really well for the majority of his innings, but in the final one or two, he began to lose form and attempt to smash the ball too hard.
18th over: 159–4 Canada (Movva 10, Bajwa 0) At this point in the innings, Ali Khan’s over of four runs and a crucial wicket is excellent.
WINCKET! 173-5 Canada (Bajwa run out 11)
Dilpreet Bajwa takes on Steven Taylor’s arm and pays the price after hitting Anderson for 10 from two balls, including a powerful six over midwicket.
20th over: Canada 194-5 in the 20th over (Movva 32, Heyliger 1) Shreyas Movva smashes 21 off Ali Khan’s last over to round off the innings in style! He struck four through mid-off, drove six over long off, then hammered an even greater six over extra cover.
USA Batting
USA 0-1 WICKET (Kaleem 0 b Taylor LBW)
Kaleem hits the next ball! A deft throw that broke the seam and struck the knee roll has trapped Steven Taylor in front.
1st over: USA 4-1 in the first over (Monank 0, Gous 4) Several pitches from Kaleem defeated the new hitter, Andries Gous. The Canada captain and goalie speak with umpire Richard Illingworth, probably over something that was spoken to Gous.
2nd over: USA 10-1 (Monank 1, Gous 9) in the second over Jeremy Gordon, a tall quick bowler, shares the fresh ball. Within the first three deliveries, he dismisses both hitters, Gous cuts for four with force and efficiency, and Gordon then bowls a brilliant delivery that hits Monank!
3rd over: USA 24-1 (Monank 11, Gous 10)
4th over: USA 29-1 (Monank 12, Gous 14)
5th over: USA 34-1 (Monank 15, Gous 15)
6th over: USA 41-1 (Monank 16, Gous 21)
USA 42-2 (Heyliger 16 c Heyliger c Monank)
With a little bit more bounce, Heyliger defeats Monank. The seamers seem to have benefited more from the ball under the lights, both in terms of vertical and horizontal movement. And Monank is no more! Charged at Heyliger, he smeared over the line and managed to get a narrow edge past the goalie.
The preceding ball and the pressure from Canada resulted in the wicket. Here, the USA are in big trouble.
7th over: USA 45-2 (Gous 23, Jones 0)
8th over: USA 48-2 (Gous 24, Jones 1)
9th over: USA 67-2 (Gous 33, Jones 8)
10th over: USA 81-2 (Gous 33, Jones 21)
11th over: USA 91-2 (Gous 35, Jones 29)
12th over: USA 106-2 (Gous 42, Jones 37)
13th over: USA 126-2 (Gous 43, Jones 56)
USA scored 33 in a single over!
USA 159-2 in the 14th over (Gous 64, Jones 63). In Texas, the USA is stomping to triumph. Jeremy Gordon was on a terrible 11-ball over that vanished for 33. Gous began by hitting Gordon for six and four to raise his score to a composed fifty off of 39 balls. He was caught at square leg off a no-ball after he made it through a frantic referral for a leg-side catch.
Jones hit his eighth six and would have hit his ninth had the replacement fielder not made an incredible leaping stop on the boundary. It didn’t matter; Gous cut four over the short third man and hammered six more over the long on.
15th over; USA 167-2 (Gous 65, Jones 71)
WICKET! USA 173-3 (Gous c Johnson b Dutta 65)
16th over: USA 174-3 (Jones 76, Anderson 1)
17th over: USA 181-3 (Jones 78, Anderson 3)
USA WIN BY SEVEN WICKETS!
Aaron Jones is the player of the game
It’s difficult to describe in words. It’s a fierce rivalry, and Canada usually comes out swinging against us. I’m just glad to see my side win.
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Since the outfield is quick and the wicket is superb, I’ve always believed that anything under 200 is chaseable. Tonight, we won because we supported ourselves to play aggressive cricket.
In practice, I enjoy power-hitting and backing myself when I’m in the center. When my team is facing some pressure, I enjoy taking the field because it brings out the best in me. I’ve played that part for a while now.