USA beat Canada in T20 World Cup opener

From 48/2 in pursuit of 195 at one stage, USA went on to take the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 opener with 14 balls to spare.

A stunning 94* from 40 balls from Aaron Jones, inclusive of 10 sixes and four fours, helped by a brilliant 65 from Andries Gous led USA to a seven-wicket win in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024 opener against Canada.

Left-arm seamer Kaleem Sana gave Canada the perfect start, dismissing the dangerous Steve Taylor for a duck. Andries Gous joined skipper Monank Patel, and the duo tried to up the scoring rate with a flurry of boundaries.

Canada, however, maintained discipline with the ball and soon struck again with Monank's wicket. The batter fell a run-a-ball 16 while trying to take on Dillon Heyliger. A 19-run over against Nikhil Dutta, featuring a six each for Andries Gous and Aaron Jones, helped pick the USA rate up. Jones continued to attack, hitting Canada skipper Saad Bin Zafar for a six and a four in the 10th over.

The duo continued going for their shots, and pumped up the USA scoring rate. From 81/2, USA added 45 runs over the next three overs. Jones hit three sixes off Saad in the 13th over, reaching the fastest T20I fifty for his side in the same over, from merely 22 balls. Gous reached a fifty off his own in the next over, and survived a scare after he hit one straight to Dilpreet off Gordon, but the pacer had bowled a no-ball. His partner, Jones took advantage of the free hit and hit his eighth six off the next ball. The duo brought up their 100-run stand off merely 45 balls.

Gous fell after a well-made 65, but by then USA were well ahead in the chase. Jones remained unbeaten for 94* from 40 balls, leading USA to a comfortable seven-wicket win.