An incredible 40-ball unbeaten 94 from Aaron Jones saw the United States, who are co-hosting the T20 World Cup, chase down a challenging Canadian score of 194-5, to get their campaign off to a winning start.

The game was played at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, which had been on the receiving end of a violent storm earlier in the week, but repairs had been carried out to make it fit to get the 2024 tournament up and running.

Canada had posted what appeared to be a more than respectable total, but the American’s made it look well below par as they overhauled the score with more than two overs to spare.

It was the perfect start for the US who are hoping to really capture the country’s cricketing imagination as the competition progresses.  

West Indies will be hoping to match their co-hosts success when they play their own opening fixture, later today. (2 June).

Canadians make impressive start

Any lingering doubts as to whether the co-hosts were only in the World Cup to make up the numbers were firmly put to bed as the USA produced a highly impressive performance in the tournament opener.

Canadian openers Navneet Dhaliwal and Aaron Johnson had got their side off to a great start with Johnson hitting 5 quick boundaries and Dhaliwal going on to complete a good half-century.

Nicholas Kirton’s followed suit with a 31-ball fifty and with the help of some belligerent hitting from wicketkeeper Shreyas Movva, they final score of 194 look to be one that could be defended.

Chase made to look easy

However, despite an excellent spell of bowling from Dillon Heyliger, the appearance of Jones at the fall of the second wicket changed things and completely took the game away from the Canadians.

Born to Barbadian parents he smashed the bowling to all parts as he raced to 94 off just 40 deliveries, including 10 sixes, and in partnership with Andries Gous, who made a very good 65 off 46 balls, they saw the co-hosts comfortably home.

They will now fancy their chances even more in what appears to be one of the toughest groups, with games against India, Pakistan, and Ireland to come.

Reactions

Unsurprisingly Aaron Jones was voted Player of the Match, and said afterwards: “It was probably my best innings in a US shirt. It’s a big rivalry, so I am happy to get my team over the line.”

Canada’s captain Saad Bin Zafar felt his team’s score was really competitive and admitted he was quite confident when they started their defence. But he reflected: “The US partnership batted exceptionally well and our bowlers had no answer for them.”

West Indies turn to shine

Attention now turns to Guyana, where the West Indies begin their co-hosting duties in a fixture against Papua New Guinea. Their opponents will naturally have one eye on events back home, after the tragic landslide last week from which it is feared as many as 2,000 could be buried under tons of debris.

Professionalism will come into force and regardless of the immense sympathy that will undoubtedly be felt, essentially nothing but a win will suffice.