Global T20 Playoff Segment Bowls off

By Ravendra Madholall in Toronto
Surrey Jaguars, Vancouver Knight Riders, defending champions Brampton Wolves and Montreal Tigers are the four teams that have progressed to the Playoff segment in this year’s Global T20 six-franchised tournament.

Jaguars surged to the top of the points’ table and will confront second-place team Vancouver Knight Riders on Friday from 11:00 am in the first Qualifier.

Riders finished with four wins at the conclusion of the preliminary round which ended on Wednesday while Montreal Tigers came in at 3 and Wolves in the fourth spot. Seven matches were played in the first phase for each team.

Tigers will clash with the Wolves in the Eliminator at 3:30 pm the same day. The second Qualifier is slated for Saturday commencing at 12:00pm as well with the curtains coming down the next day with proceedings get cracking at noon.

The two other participating teams are: Toronto Nationals who ended with only two wins and Mississauga Panthers left in the cellar spot without a victory.

Like what spectators witnessed at the inaugural tournament in 2018 and then in 2019, they will be in for a treat at this exciting juncture of the tournament.

Vancouver Knight Riders emerged champions 2018.

Things were kept off field understandably so for the next three straight years owing to the global catastrophe: COVID 19.

As promised prior to the commencement of the 2023 showpiece, that Global T20 is here to stay.

Some stalwarts are in Canada representing various teams including the “Universal Boss” Chris Gayle. The Jamaican and West Indian stunned the cricket planet with his flamboyant exhibition during his illustrious career for West Indies and a plethora of T20 Leagues. His appearance at this year’s Global T20 is over though as Panthers have already exited.

Indian Harbanjan Singh, Pakistanis Shaheed Afridi and his country-man Sohaib Malik have also made their presence felt.

Mohammad Rizwan is a rising start from Pakistan making steady headlines since his arrival in Canada in representation for Vancouver Knight Riders. His sublime batting form speaks volume with back-to-back half-centuries. A lot will depend on South Africa Rassie van der Dussen, the leader, but his form not that impressive and no doubt his side will be optimistic that his experience could make a huge difference.

Montreal Tigers have got Andre Russell, another household name when it comes to T20 cricket across the globe. He is known for his belligerence. The Tigers will miss the services of dynamic all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan, who left for a cricket assignment in Sri Lanka.

Surrey Jaguars will be pinning their hopes high on Bangladesh top batsman Litton Das who is in prolific form while the bowling will centre around Nepal leggy Sandeep Lamichhane, who helped ushered his team to few wins.

Meanwhile, in the final two matches, Vancouver Knight Riders took a morale-boosting 25-run win against Toronto Nationals.

Later in the day, Jaguars thrashed Mississauga Panthers by a whopping eight-wicket margin. That would certainly lift their confidence immensely for the next stage.