DALLAS, United States, CMC – In a match that set the stage on fire, former Barbados Pride batsman Aaron Jones ignited the ninth edition of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup with a scintillating half-century. The United States, in a daring run chase, emerged victorious by seven wickets, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats.
Asked to chase a challenging 195 in the tournament opener at Grand Prairie Stadium, the home side comfortably overhauled their target with 14 balls to spare, with the 29-year-old Jones blasting an unbeaten 94 off a mere 40 deliveries.
With his masterful strokes, Aaron Jones, a former Barbados Pride batsman, orchestrated a stunning 131-run third-wicket stand with Andries Gous (65). This remarkable partnership turned the tide for the United States, transforming a nervy situation of 42 for two in the seventh over into a commanding position.
Gous, 30, whose career was almost entirely in his native South Africa, belted seven fours and three sixes in a 46-ball knock.
Man-of-the-Match Jones reached his second T20 International fifth off 22 balls in the 13th over and finished the game by clearing the ropes at mid-wicket with off-spinner Nikhil Dutta.
“I think right now the team is in a good place. We want to keep winning as much as possible,” Jones said afterward.
“Of course, we can’t win every single game for the rest of our lives, but we want to win as many games as possible, and we want to beat as many teams as possible and really show the world that the USA really has great cricketers here in the country.”
Sent in, Canada got a top score of 61 off 44 balls from opener Navneet Dhaliwal, while Barbadian Nicholas Kirton, who played the last of his four first-class matches for Pride as recently as last season, chipped in with a maiden half-century of 51 off 31 deliveries.
Dhaliwal, who struck a half-dozen fours and three sixes, put on 43 for the first wicket with Aaron Johnson (23) before adding a further 62 for the third wicket with Kirton, who counted three fours and two sixes.
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