USA defeat Canada by seven wickets in T20 World Cup 2024 Opener

Dallas: The United States triumphed in the opening match of the T20 World Cup 2024 against Canada by seven wickets at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Saturday.

After being put to bat first by the hosts, Canada set a target of 195 runs for the US in the inaugural match.

Aaron Jones from the USA delivered a powerful performance, scoring 94 runs in 40 balls, which included four fours and 10 sixes, helping the team chase the 195-run target in just 17.4 overs.

The USA started their run chase slowly, slipping to 42-2 in the seventh over with both openers, Steven Taylor (0) and Monank Patel (16), back in the pavilion.

At this juncture, Andries Gous and Jones took control of the innings, forming a brilliant match-winning partnership of 131 runs in 58 balls.

Gous contributed 65 runs in 46 balls, including seven fours and three sixes.

Earlier, after winning the toss, the USA decided to field first. Canada posted a total of 194 for the loss of five wickets.

Opener Navneet Dhaliwal and middle-order batter Nicholas Kirton scored half-centuries for Canada, laying the foundation for a competitive score.

Dhaliwal scored 61 runs in 44 balls, hitting six fours and three sixes, while Kirton added 51 runs in 31 balls, including three fours and two sixes.

Shreyas Movva played an explosive unbeaten cameo, scoring 32 runs in 16 balls to boost the innings towards the end.

Ali Khan, Harmeet Singh, and Corey Anderson each claimed one wicket.

The cricket rivalry between the USA and Canada is the oldest, dating back to the first-ever international cricket match between the two sides in 1844 at St George’s Cricket Club in New York.

Canada and the USA are part of Group A in the T20 World Cup, alongside India, Pakistan, and Ireland.

Lineups:

Canada: Aaron Johnson, Navneet Dhaliwal, Pargat Singh, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (wk), Dilpreet Bajwa, Saad Bin Zafar (capt), Nikhil Dutta, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana, Jeremy Gordon

USA: Steven Taylor, Monank Patel (capt, wk), Andries Gous, Aaron Jones, Nitish Kumar, Corey Anderson, Harmeet Singh, Shadley van Schalkwyk, Jasdeep Singh, Ali Khan, Saurabh Netravalkar