Montreal Tigers emerged victorious in a thrilling battle against Vancouver Knights in the preliminary final of the Global Twenty20 cricket tournament in Canada. The Tigers secured a nail-biting one-wicket win with just three balls remaining in the match, thanks to an impressive innings from discarded West Indies all-rounder Sherfane Rutherford.
After Vancouver Knights set a target of 138 runs for Montreal Tigers, Rutherford showcased his batting prowess and nerves of steel, remaining unbeaten with 48 runs off 34 balls. His innings included two fours and three sixes, and he ended up hitting consecutive sixes off the final three balls of the match to seal the victory.
The Tigers’ journey to victory wasn’t easy, as they stumbled to 123 for nine in their chase. However, Rutherford’s magnificent performance in the closing stages ensured that the team reached the finish line and booked their place in the final.
It was reminiscent of another memorable finish in T20 cricket, namely the 2016 T20 World Cup final in India, where Rutherford’s teammate and former West Indies T20 International captain Carlos Brathwaite played a crucial role. Brathwaite famously hit four consecutive sixes in the final over to secure victory for the West Indies.
Supporting Rutherford’s heroics, United Arab Emirate pacer Junaid Siddique also played a crucial part, taking four wickets for 22 runs from his four overs. West Indies left-arm spinner Fabian Allen chipped in with two wickets, and South African Corbin Bosch delivered an impressive all-round performance, taking two wickets for 18 runs from his four overs.
In the earlier stages of the match, Montreal Tigers’ uncapped Pakistani pacer Abbas Afridi shone brightly, capturing a career-best five wickets for 29 runs from his four overs. His superb bowling effort limited the Knights to 137 for six in their allotted 20 overs. Pakistani wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan top-scored for the Knights with 39 runs, while Bosch contributed 36 runs, and Harsh Thaker added 26 runs.
The victory for Montreal Tigers sets up a thrilling final clash against Surrey Jaguars. The final match, which promises to be a spectacle of exciting cricket, is scheduled to take place at the CAA Centre in Brampton, Ontario today at noon local time.
Both teams will be eagerly anticipating the final showdown, as they battle it out to claim the coveted Global Twenty20 title. With their recent triumph fresh in their minds, the Tigers will be aiming to continue their winning momentum and lift the trophy. On the other hand, the Jaguars will be determined to put up a strong fight and emerge victorious in this highly-anticipated final.
Cricket fans around the world will be eagerly watching and waiting to witness the conclusion of the Global Twenty20 tournament, anticipating a thrilling encounter between two talented teams.
