Winnipeg Hawks dust aside Montreal Tigers

Global T20 Canada…

Winnipeg Hawks tamed Montreal Tigers by a convincing 46-run win on Friday at the Maple Leaf venue in King City, Toronto in the second round of the 2018 inaugural Global T20 Canada competition.
Led by genuine all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, Winnipeg Hawks batted first at the invitation of Montreal Tigers, and were able to rattle up 203-4 from their allocation of 20 overs. Tigers, in response, could only roar erratically, and were dismissed for 157 in the penultimate over of their allotted 20 overs.
Bravo also starred with the ball to help restrict the opposition. He snared three wickets for 24 runs from three medium-paced overs; while Canada’s player and leg-spinner Junaid Siddique claimed three wickets from 3.5 overs, but conceded 35 runs. Talented USA fast-bowler Ali Khan took two wickets for 18 runs from his impressive four-over spell in a supportive role.
Tigers’ chase began very perilously, with them losing hard-hitting West Indies batsman Dwayne Smith, caught at the boundary area when the score was just one; but Sunil Narine and Moises Henriques put up a fighting 57-run second-wicket stand, both batsmen showing good aggression, although they fell in quick succession. Henriques made 23, while Narine contributed 20.
Ashley Nurse played some attractive shots, but was brilliantly caught by David Warner at long-on to canny leg-spinner Siddique. George Worker also made 26, while Rayan Pathan hit a cameo 26.
Earlier, Lasith Malinga, the Sri Lankan ace pacer, started proceedings by removing Warner, bowled comprehensively for 1. However, a partnership of 69 between opener Lendl Simmons and Ben McDermott provided great resistance on a deceptive surface bathed in glorious sunshine.
Simmons, who was dropped on 15, went on to score 36, while McDermott impressed with a top-score of 68 from 46 deliveries, laced with seven fours and a six, before he was taken off medium-pacer Kevin Cooper.
Darren Bravo, the elegant Trinidad and Tobago batsman, began his innings quite slowly, but gradually got into aggressive mode, thumping five gigantic sixes around the sward. He made 54, and featured in some valuable partnerships during his stay in the middle.
South African David Miller, a world-class T20 batsman, being in phenomenal form, once again spanked several delightful shots with great confidence, to contribute 35.
Malinga captured two wickets for 19 runs from his four tidy overs.
At the presentation ceremony just after the game, McDermott was given the player-of-the-match award for his innings. The tournament continues on Saturday with two matches at the same facility. (Ravi Madholall)