CRICKET-Barbadian Forde propels Jaguars into GT20 final.

BRAMPTON, Ontario, CMC – Former West Indies Under-19 all-rounder Matthew Forde topped a similarly destructive spell from United Arab Emirates pacer Junaid Siddique and propelled Surrey Jaguars into the final of the Global Twenty20 in Canada with a 38-run win against Vancouver Knights on Friday.

The 21-year-old Barbadian all-rounder bagged four for 16 from 2.4 overs, and Jaguars bowled out the Knights for 101 in 16.4 overs in the low-scoring qualifying final of the tournament at the CAA Centre.

Forde got Pakistan wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Rizwan caught behind for four in his first over and South Africa batsman Rassie van der Dussen for six in his opening spell, and the Knights closed the Power Play on 31 for four.

Jamaican all-rounder Fabian Allen led the way for the Knights with 27 and helped them reach the 100 mark before Forde returned for a second spell to remove him and Siddique off successive balls to bring the match to a close.

The result meant that Jaguars – the team that topped the points table – directly qualified for the final on Sunday at the same venue, where the Knights and the Montreal Tigers will meet in the preliminary final on Saturday to determine the other final spot.

Earlier, Forde made only four, batting at seven. Still, his captain, Pakistan batsman Iftikhar Ahmed, led the way with 36, and Oman international Ayaan Khan made 29. Pakistan opener Mohammad Haris added 20, and the Jags reached 139 for nine from their 20 overs after they were put into bat.

Siddique was the main destroyer with four for 22 from his allotted four overs. At the same time, UAE leg-spin bowling teammate Keithan Meiyappan and Namibia left-arm pacer Ruben Trumpelmann took two wickets.

Later in the second doubleheader match, former West Indies all-rounders Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, and Sherfane Rutherford were part of the Tigers outfit that beat Brampton Wolves by nine wickets in the eliminator final.

Brathwaite grabbed two for 20 from his four overs, Russell conceded 28 in four wicket-less overs, and the Wolves were bowled out for 104 in their 20 overs after they were put into bat.

A brutal 63 from 47 balls that included seven fours and three sixes from discarded Australia international Chris Lynn, a Caribbean Premier League regular, led a successful run chase in 14.2 overs for the Tigers.