In the first match of the five-match series, USA defeated Canada by 6 wickets. With players like Andries Gous, Harmeet Singh, Milind Kumar, and Shadley Van Schalkwyk making their first appearances in an American lineup, the match marked five T20I debuts for the USA. The player of the match, Nosthush Kenjige, made his T20I debut as well, scoring a sharp 3-21 in his 4 overs. Kenjige, who just concluded his career with the MI Emirates, is a 40-ODI veteran—a significant total for an Associate player. He never fails to make an impression in the format.
After winning the toss, the USA elected to bat first and appeared to be in control of the game from the start. Kenjige and co. quickly discovered the home conditions as they held Canada to 132. USA raced to a canter home with 15 balls remaining thanks to captain Monank Patel and Andries Gous’s easy half centuries. With a powerplay of 47 runs against Canada’s meager total of 30, Monank and his opening partner Steven Taylor forced Canada to play catch-up cricket in both innings.
A great performance by USA bowlers
Aaron Johnson looked dangerous, but Saurabh Netravalkar stung the Canadians early with an ill-advised draw that came back when the player displayed some aggression. Srimantha Wijeyeratne attempted to unshackle Kenjige by hitting a clean sweep that went straight into the palms of the deep square leg. Due to a messy misunderstanding with Pargat Singh, Navneet Dhaliwal was fired, dealing a severe blow to Canada.
For a short while, Pargat and Harsh Thaker attempted to steady the Canadian ship. In his match against Harmeet and Jasdeep Singh, former Punjab batsman Pargat struck a string of boundaries that kept the engine running. Thanks to a stunning catch by Monank, the two added 31 runs for the fourth wicket before Van Schalkwyk dismissed Thaker. Within minutes of foxing Pargat into stepping outside his crease and clean-siding Dilpreet Bajwa, Kenjige had Canada tottering at 77 for 6.
With a 29-run cameo off of 16 balls, Canada’s captain Saad Bin Zafar showed some bravery and helped to push the total to a manageable level. With consecutive deliveries, Zafar pulled Jasdeep Singh apart, belting one to the midwicket fence and carving another to the point boundary. Zafar had Netravalkar beat, smoking a six and four, only to be caught in the face of a complete delivery. After Zafar was removed at 113 in the eighteenth over, Canada could barely get 132 in the last over.
Taylor and Monank soar in the power play.
Monank Patel got underway quite quickly. Just after reaching his century in the T20 Nationals, which were held on the same field, he once more had an unsettling appearance. He lofted Rishiv Joshi down the ground in the opening over, making it obvious what he intended to do. The following delivery, he clipped Joshi off his pads to the mid wicket boundary. In perhaps the shot of the game, he charged fast bowler Uday Singh to deposit him over long off. Taylor, who isn’t known for playing inside himself, hit Thaker with a deep square leg at the other end. He later got even with Dillon Heyliger for spraying on his pads, sending one flying over the same fence and the other to the mid-wicket boundary.
Andries Gous makes his premiere.
Just after the powerplay, Taylor was caught off guard by Nicholas Kirton’s offspin as he attempted to deflect a legside delivery with one hand that went to short fine leg. As Gous got his eye in, Monank continued to splatter some delicious strokes along the cover edge. To stimulate Kirton’s mind, Gous drove a nail into the ground. He went after Thaker, hitting two sixes and a four in the twelfth over to all but seal the victory for the United States. To reach his first T20I half century off 30 deliveries, Monank created space and bludgeoned a square cut towards the point boundary off Heyliger in the following over. Gous hit a beautiful leg to bring up his half century off 34 deliveries. He exuded class with his daredevilry and shot making, which is pretty welcome from an American player in the middle of a Twenty20 inning. USA lost Monank, Gous, and Aaron Jones in addition, but they were still close to the target.
On Tuesday, April 4th, in the afternoon, the USA will play Canada once more.
