Chris Gayle-led Vancouver Knights clinch inaugural Global T20 Canada title

Sport360 staff 13:33 16/07/2018
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  • The champions. Image: Twitter @GT20Canada

    The Chris Gayle-led Vancouver Knights clinched the inaugural Global T20 Canada title after beating West Indies B by seven wickets in the final on Sunday.

    Saad Bin Zafar starred for Vancouver in their chase of 146 with an unbeaten knock of 79 which included eight boundaries and three sixes.

    It was West Indies B who batted first at Toronto but they were only able to muster 145 runs before being bowled out in the 18th over of the innings.

    Pacer Sheldon Cottrell was the pick of the bowlers for Vancouver with the West Indies man picking up four wickets, while Australia’s Fawad Ahmed chipped in with three scalps.

    Fabian Allen top-scored for West Indies B with a 23-ball 41 batting at number eight.

    In reply, although Vancouver openers Gayle and Chadwick Walton fell cheaply, Rassie van der Dussen and Zafar ensured that the side got over the finish line with 15 balls to spare in the end.

    “This was surreal. It was a bit intimidating to play under Gayle because I’m a big fan and 10 years ago I took a picture with him. But he’s been a supportive captain. He trusted me and gave me responsibility and I’m glad I could live up to it,” man-of-the-match Zafar was quoted as saying by The Globe and Mail.

    “Saad’s job was to consolidate the innings for us, but he actually brought it home. Everyone played a role for us in this tournament and I’m very happy with Saad’s performance in the final,” winning skipper Gayle said on his part.

    “Happy to be on the winning side, but I can’t take away anything from West Indies B. They’ve beaten everyone in the tournament and they made it to the final. I do want to commend my players for pulling this off. Our batting and bowling has been excellent throughout,” Gayle added.

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