BY KAYLA KARIM
The second annual Global T20 tournament final took place last Sunday giving fans an excellent game in regulation and then some. The Winnipeg Hawks beat the Vancouver Knights in a thrilling match on Sunday August 11th that needed a Super Over to determine the winner. The match was tied at 192 runs in 20 overs by the Vancouver Knights with help from captain Shoaib Malik’s 36-ball 64. Russell also assisted leading the Knights with 46 runs including five 6s and three 4s as the Knights were able to secure 192 runs to match the Hawks in the regulation 20 overs.
The reigning Global T20 Champions, Vancouver, batted first in the Super Over where Russel and his teammates managed only 9 runs. But in response, Winnipeg was able to chase down the 9 runs easily with 2 balls to spare winning the game with Winnipeg’s Chris Lynn making 5 runs.
“I am just overwhelmed. We were off to a tremendous start. The pitch was getting slower and lower. We should have got to 200, but 192 was par. We were trying to make him wait (Russell) as long as possible. We held our nerves well. (Kaleem) Sana, excellent last over and excellent Super Over.”
The Man of the Match was awarded to Shaiman Anwar for his brilliant knock of 90 off 45 balls while JP Duminy was honoured with the Player of the Tournament award for being the leading run scorer.
Winnipeg was the underdog in the final but was able to push their way to their first Global T20 victory.
Over in the West Indies, batsman Chris Gayle, also known as the Universe Boss, continues to achieve new milestones. In the second ODI against India the 39-year-old left-hander became the first West Indies cricketer to play 300 ODIs. Before the match had even started Gayle mentioned that it would be a special day while thanking the Almighty and fans for the support.
He added, “Hopefully I can make it a special one today for the fans. 300 ODIs, from a personal point of view as well I want to make it a special one. I’m grateful, but it will be more important to get a win as well and go one up as well.”
On August 14th, after participating in the Global T20 Tournament in Canada with the Vancouver Knights, Chris Gayle sported a special edition jersey in the 3rd ODI taking place in Port of Spain. Gayle walked out in a shirt that had the number “301” on the back as he is playing in his 301st ODI in the India tour of the West Indies. As the all time leading run scorer in ODIs and holding the title with the first Windies player to play in 300 ODI matches, Gayle is now the most-capped West Indies player in ODIs.
