Global T20 League: Vancouver Knights Rise to Top as Toronto Nationals Bow Out

Vancouver Knights jumped to the top of the points table banking on a comfortable eight-wicket win over Toronto Nationals on July 10 (Tuesday) in the Global T20 League 2018.

Registering their fourth win in six games, Knights came out on top of the Round 2 knockout on a high, as Nationals had a disappointing end to their inaugural season after a good start.

However, the wicket wasn’t spinning much at the start but did towards the end. As a result, Knights’ spinners restricted Nationals to 103, which was a cakewalk chase for the opponents.

Chadwick Walton and Ben Dunk went about the chase in a hurry, finishing off things quickly. Their rapid start to the chase meant they scaled the target down in just 12.3 overs. Walton remained unbeaten on a 36-ball 54, anchoring the chase right from the start.

Previously, after opting to bowl, a collective effort from the Knights bowlers had them strangle Nationals from the onset. Tim Southee and Sheldon Cottrell struck early to put the opposition back with both openers back in the hut in the fourth over.

Steven Smith tried to steady the innings with a handy 35 in his 28-ball stay, but wickets tumbled at the other end. Skipper Darren Sammy chipped in with useful runs (29) towards the end, but three-wicket hauls from Andre Russell and Fawad Ahmed had National bowled out for a modest target in just 16.5 overs.

Brief scores: Toronto Nationals 103 in 16.5 overs (Steven Smith 35, Darren Sammy 29; Andre Russell 3-17, Fawad Ahmed 3-22) lost to Vancouver Knights104/2 in 12.3 overs (Chadwick Walton 54*) by eight wickets.

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