Showcasing the finest of the sport, the recent cricket tournament in Canada was an amazing spectacle. Audiences were gripped by the suspense as ten teams – Ontario, Quebec, PEI, Manitoba, New Brunswick, British Columbia (BC), Alberta, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador – engaged in a struggle for supremacy.
Ontario and Quebec Emerge as Front-Runners
Two of the best teams in the competition, Ontario and Quebec, dominated the action with their outstanding performances. Both teams received five points apiece for winning two games, losing one, and having no outcome in one. Their net run rates (NRRs) also revealed something of their batting prowess, with Quebec’s 0.716 and Ontario’s 4.378 illustrating this.
Manitoba, New Brunswick and Newfoundland &Labrador Struggle
The record was not very impressive as they ended up with four points from two wins and two losses. New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador had a poor competition, however. Losing three games and drawing one, New Brunswick scored only a single point while Newfoundland and Labrador scored a single point for losing all three matches.
The National Men’s T20 Championship proved to be the finest of national sport and was an absolute runaway success. The event had enough twists and turns to keep people interested and involved in the action.
Best of the tournament
Top Batsmen
- Ali Nadeem (Ontario) – 260 runs in 5 matches, strike rate of 122, with 3 50+ scores
- Mansab Gill (BC) – 196 runs in 6 matches, strike rate of 105, with 2 50+ scores
- Yuvraj Sharma (Ontario) – 166 runs in 5 matches, strike rate of 146, with a century in one match
Top Bowlers
- Sukhjinder Singh (BC) – 14 wickets in 6 matches, economy rate of 3.67, with 3 maiden overs
- Gurjot Gosal (jr) (Ontario) – 11 wickets in 5 matches, economy rate of 4.32
- Sheel Patel (Ontario) – 10 wickets in 4 matches, economy rate of 3.53
Other Notable Performances
– Jaskaran Buttar (Ontario) – highest strike rate of 223, scoring 103 runs in 69 balls
– Parth Vyas (Alberta) – best wicketkeeper with 10 dismissals in 4 matches
Brilliant cricketing and intense competition have characterized the 2024 National Men T20 Championship. The other teams’ fierce competition, British Columbia’s flawless run, and Ontario’s tactical skill made for an incredible tournament.
Tournament Overview
Semi-Final 1 : BC vs Quebec
In an exciting game, BC hammered Quebec by 9 wickets in just 12.5 overs. Asked to bat first, Quebec was bowled out for the score of 72 in 17 overs as BC fielded up with a very strong bowling attack which didn’t allow them to pick up. BC: The pick of the bowlers for BC was Newab Singh, who, in a magical performance, wreaked havoc by taking four wickets for just five runs off his three overs with the ball. Much of the destruction of the Quebec lineup was possible through the brilliance of the BC bowlers, headed by Newab Singh. Ajayveer Singh stood calm with the bat and took his side through for a win by the virtue of anchoring the BC innings, amassing a valuable 44 runs off as many deliveries. The win vindicated BC as well above excellence with the bat and the ball in their commanding performance throughout the competition.
Semi-Final 2 : Ontario vs Alberta
Ontario defeated Alberta by 5 wickets, accomplishing their goal of 98 runs, Alberta, who batted first, posted a competitive total of 97 runs. In bowling, Ontario’s Meet Patel was the most impressive player. In just four overs, he claimed three wickets for 24 runs, severely restricting Alberta’s batting lineup. Parth Chaudhari, who scored 35 runs off of 31 balls with a steady stroke of the bat, gave Ontario’s innings stability as they successfully chased down the modest total. With Chaudhari’s innings and Patel’s effective bowling, Ontario’s performance was well-rounded and they won, demonstrating their efficacy in both areas of the game.
Finals : BC Vs Ontario
The grand finale of the 2024 National Men T20 Championship unfolded on August 23, 2024, at Batsman Park A in Brampton, where Ontario defeated British Columbia by 7 wickets. British Columbia, after winning the toss and electing to bat, scored 107 all out in 20 overs. Despite some useful efforts from Mansab Gill, who made 29 runs off 18 balls, and Uday Bhagwan Singh with 22, Ontario’s bowlers, led by Gurjot Gosal Jr. with 4 wickets for 14 runs and Meet Patel with 2 wickets for 20, kept them in check. The reply saw Ontario achieve the target in just 18.1 overs, at the loss of only 3 wickets, with solid knocks from Yuvraj Samra and Ali Nadeem, while Meet Patel added a vital unbeaten 20. Sukhjinder Singh and Newab Singh, who each took 1 wicket, couldn’t stop Ontario’s chase as the Toronto Nationals sealed a good win.
