194 was a really good total considering the high pressure: Saad

Canada put on a show after being put into bat first here at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas, with a stellar partnership between Navneet Dhaliwal and Nicholas Kirtan, scoring 62 runs in just six overs. 

Despite losing the two set batters, a proper 16-ball 32 cameo from Shreyas Movva propelled them to 194, a score that skipper Saad Bin Zafar calls ‘really good’ considering the high-pressure situation of it being a T20 World Cup encounter. 

“I think we put up a really good total. 194 was a very, I know the wicket was playing really good, but 194 was a really good total considering it to be a World Cup game and a high-pressure game it's not easy to chase but we started off really well as a bowling unit the first power play was pretty amazing but the way Aaron Jones started hitting along with Andries Gous, I think they took us out of the game, basically,” Saad said in the post-match press conference. 

As Saad pointed out, Canada were in the ascendancy when the USA were restricted to 42/2, leaving Aaron Jones and Andries Gous with a mountain to climb in front of the home fans. Kaleem Sana’s bowling paired up with Dilon Heyliger was the perfect concoction of chaos for the hosts. 

But that partnership between Jones and Gous turned out to not just knock Canada out but also break several records on the way and throw them out of the park. The duo scored 131 runs off just 58 balls in a middle-over segment where they blew the Canadian spinners out of the game.

In particular, it was one moment that blew Canada’s hopes when Jones took on Jeremy Gordon in an over where the Canadian pacer conceded 33 runs, the second-most in a single over in the T20 World Cup history. It was an over that was filled with too many extras (two no-balls and three wides), which changed the complexion of the game.  

“Yeah, definitely I think we were still in the game and we just needed to break a partnership because they were going well but then it's not easy for a new batsman to come in and keep up with the pace so I think if that was not a no-ball things might have been different but yeah definitely I think we didn't bowl well we gave a lot of extras especially three to four no balls in a T20 game is a big no-no. And that's also one of the reasons of us losing, ending up on the losing side,” he said. 

Despite losing out to Jones’ brilliant 94, Saad took the time out to compliment the batter, stating that he really played an ‘exceptional knock’ which is the best he has seen him bat. 

“Well yeah, I know Aaron Jones is capable of playing this kind of innings, but I was not expecting him to play today at this stage and in pressure situations, especially at the time when he walked in. They were about 40 in 7 overs for 2. So, I think he played an exceptional inning. And I think, for me personally, this is the best inning I've seen him play actually,” he added.

Canada now face a strong opponent in the form of Ireland, who won’t make it any easier for them. But Saad insists that his team would continue their positive brand of cricket, and would learn quickly from all the mistakes that they committed in Dallas. 

“Yeah, definitely we were eyeing to win this game. It didn't happen, but we can't change anything that has already happened. But going forward, we just want to play positive cricket. We have beaten Ireland in the past, so it's just another game. We just want to play to our potential learn from the mistakes We did in today's game and that just come back strong and just take one game at a time and see where it takes us."

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