 "T20 World Cup: Aaron Jones blitzkrieg fires USA to historic win in tournament opener")
Aaron Jones made an unbeaten 94 from 40 balls as the USA made a blistering start to their debut T20 World Cup campaign by beating Canada by seven wickets at Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas on Sunday. In the opening match of T20 World Cup 2024, which is being co-hosted by USA and West Indies, the United States seemed under pressure when Canada made 194-5 batting first and when they lost a wicket to the second ball of their innings.
T20 World Cup 2024: News | Schedule | Points Table
The total demanded the United States achieve their highest-ever run chase in a T20 international to win the match, eclipsing their previous best of 169. In the end, the USA reached the target with ease. 14 balls were remaining when Jones clinched Team USA’s win with his 10th six.
Team USA looked in a desperate position when its captain Monank Patel was out at 66-2 in the 7th over. At one point in their innings, the United States needed more than 12 runs an over to surpass Canada’s total.
But Jones, who had been out of form in recent matches and came into the match with a strike rate of 100, hit the fastest T20 half-century for the USA from 22 balls with six sixes and at a strike rate of 227.
At least two of his blows carried more than 100 meters (328 feet) and would have been home runs at Grand Prarie Stadium in its previous incarnation as a baseball stadium.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsJones turned the match with a superb innings that pushed pressure firmly back on Canada. That pressure showed when Jeremy Gordon bowled the 14th over which stretched with wides and no balls to 11 balls and conceded 33 runs.
Jones put on 131 runs in a match-winning partnership for the third wicket with Andres Gous who made 65 from 46 balls with seven fours and three sixes. South Africa-born Gous was out just before the end, as chants of “USA, USA’” echoed around the stadium..
Tournament co-host West Indies begins their campaign Sunday with a match against Papua New Guinea in Guyana and Oman plays Namibia in Barbados.
With agency inputs
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
 "Russian drones over Poland: Trump’s tepid reaction a wake-up call for Nato?")
 "As Russia pushes east, Ukraine faces mounting pressure to defend its heartland")
 "Why Mossad was not on board with Israel’s strike on Hamas in Qatar")
 "Turkey: Erdogan's police arrest opposition mayor Hasan Mutlu, dozens officials in corruption probe")
