GT20 Canada 2024 Day 4: Bangla Tigers Mississauga vs Toronto Nationals Match Report
In a nail-biting finish at the CAA Centre in Brampton, the Bangla Tigers Mississauga edged out the Toronto Nationals by just 2 runs in the 8th match of the Global T20 Canada tournament. David Wiese’s all-round brilliance was the cornerstone of Mississauga’s victory, earning him the Player of the Match award.
The Bangla Tigers Mississauga, after being put into bat, posted a competitive total of 168/7 in their 20 overs. The innings started positively with Muhammad Waseem scoring a brisk 27 off 18 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Rahmanullah Gurbaz (24 off 26) and Hazratullah Zazai (19 off 10) provided solid contributions, but it was David Wiese’s explosive 38* off 17 balls that propelled the team to a challenging score.
Wiese’s knock included three fours and three sixes, showcasing his powerful hitting in the death overs. The Toronto Nationals bowlers, led by Saad Bin Zafar (2/27) and Romario Shepherd (2/40), managed to keep the scoring in check but couldn’t prevent the late onslaught.
Chasing 169, the Toronto Nationals had a shaky start, losing key wickets early. Colin Munro (17 off 12) and Andries Gous (3 off 9) were dismissed cheaply, putting the Nationals on the back foot. Nicholas Kirton played a lone hand with a scintillating 74 off 54 balls, including seven boundaries and four sixes.
Despite his efforts, wickets fell at regular intervals, and the Nationals found themselves struggling at 104/4 after 13 overs. David Wiese’s tight spell (4-1-28-1) and Ali Khan’s crucial strikes (2/33) ensured the pressure remained on the chasing side.
The game took a thrilling turn in the final overs with Romario Shepherd providing some late fireworks with a quickfire 24* off 12 balls. However, the disciplined bowling and sharp fielding from Mississauga held their nerve. Needing 13 runs off the final over, the Nationals managed 11, falling agonizingly short by 2 runs. Shoriful Islam and Iftikhar Ahmed chipped in with vital wickets to restrict the scoring.
This narrow victory keeps Bangla Tigers Mississauga’s campaign alive and kicking, thanks to their all-round performance. Toronto Nationals will rue their missed opportunities and the inability to capitalize on Nicholas Kirton’s superb innings.
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