Jones the hero as scintillating knock helps USA to victory in T20 World Cup opener
From 48/2 in pursuit of 195 at one stage, USA went on to take the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 opener with 14 balls to spare.
USA v Canada in Dallas
A stunning 94* from 40 balls from Aaron Jones, inclusive of 10 sixes and four fours, helped by a brilliant 65 from Andries Gous led USA to a seven-wicket win in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Canada.
Co-hosts too strong in tournament opener | Match Highlights | USA v Canada | T20 World Cup
Jones, Gous lead special chase
All 10 sixes from USA's Aaron Jones against Canada | T20 World Cup
Toss: USA won the toss and elected to bowl first
Left-arm seamer Kaleem Sana gave Canada the perfect start, dismissing the dangerous Steve Taylor for a duck. Andries Gous joined skipper Monank Patel, and the duo tried to up the scoring rate with a flurry of boundaries.
Canada, however, maintained discipline with the ball and soon struck again with Monank's wicket. The batter fell a run-a-ball 16 while trying to take on Dillon Heyliger. A 19-run over against Nikhil Dutta, featuring a six each for Andries Gous and Aaron Jones, helped pick the USA rate up. Jones continued to attack, hitting Canada skipper Saad Bin Zafar for a six and a four in the 10th over.
The duo continued going for their shots, and pumped up the USA scoring rate. From 81/2, USA added 45 runs over the next three overs. Jones hit three sixes off Saad in the 13th over, reaching the fastest T20I fifty for his side in the same over, from merely 22 balls. Gous reached a fifty off his own in the next over, and survived a scare after he hit one straight to Dilpreet off Gordon, but the pacer had bowled a no-ball. His partner, Jones took advantage of the free hit and hit his eighth six off the next ball. The duo brought up their 100-run stand off merely 45 balls.
Gous fell after a well-made 65, but by then USA were well ahead in the chase. Jones remained unbeaten for 94* from 40 balls, leading USA to a comfortable seven-wicket win.
Purchase access to the Premium Club Lounge for the massive #T20WorldCup 2024 games at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium
Dhaliwal, Kirton power Canada to big total
Aaron Johnson smashed the very first ball of the tournament over extra cover, setting the tone for Canada's powerplay approach. His partner Navneet Dhaliwal got a four off his own in the very next over, but it was Johnson who took the charge for his side. He hit USA's Ali Khan for three boundaries in the third over and Canada were off to a flier.
Dhaliwal half-century powers Canada to good score | T20 World Cup
It was Harmeet Singh who got the dangerous Johnson, when the right-hander tried to hit the slow left-arm spinner towards the cow corner but instead found Nitish Kumar in the deep. Pargat Singh's run out soon after gave the hosts another wicket.
Dhaliwal found good support in Nicholas Kirton and the duo set about reconstructing the Canadian innings. Dhaliwal brought up the first fifty of the tournament in the 12th over. Kirton got into the act soon after, hitting a six and a four against Shadley Van Schalkwyk to lift the run rate.
USA National Anthem plays ahead of the inaugural game of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024.
The experienced Corey Anderson got into the game thereafter, getting rid off Dhaliwal with his first delivery and then taking a sharp catch to dismiss the set Nicholas Kirton in the 18th over to give USA a boost. Six-filled cameos from Shreyas Movva (32* from 16) and Dilpreet Bajwa (11 from 5) then helped Canada take 35 off the final two overs.