July 28: In a commanding performance, the Surrey Jaguars overpowered the Toronto Nationals by 80 runs in the 7th match of the Global T20 Canada held in Brampton. Marcus Stoinis emerged as the star of the match, excelling both with the bat and ball, and earning the Player of the Match accolade for his stellar all-round display.
Opting to field first after winning the toss, the Toronto Nationals aimed to control the Surrey Jaguars’ batting lineup. Despite an early setback with Sunil Narine falling for just 2 runs, Surrey started steadily. Kyle Mayers provided a solid base, scoring 27 off 23 balls.
Wickets fell at regular intervals, but Marcus Stoinis held the innings together with a powerful 57 off 37 balls, including three boundaries and four sixes. His crucial partnership with Virandeep Singh (23* off 20 balls) helped Surrey post a competitive total of 161/6 in 20 overs. Muhammad Rohid and Junaid Siddique led the Nationals’ bowling effort, each taking two wickets, but they couldn’t significantly hinder the scoring rate.
Chasing a target of 162, the Toronto Nationals faced a tough challenge from the beginning. Their top order struggled against the disciplined bowling of the Jaguars. Nicholas Kirton (11 off 9) and Unmukt Chand (21 off 17) showed brief resistance.
Sunil Narine’s exceptional bowling turned the tide, as he claimed 3 wickets for just 5 runs in his four overs, dismantling the Nationals’ batting order. Marcus Stoinis continued his impactful performance by taking 3 wickets for 19 runs, and Mohammad Nabi added 2 wickets, deepening the Nationals’ troubles.
The Nationals’ batting collapse was swift and decisive. From a relatively stable position at 60/4, they crumbled to 81 all out in just 17.1 overs. Rohit Paudel’s laborious 10 off 25 balls highlighted their struggles, with no other batsman able to offer substantial resistance. The Jaguars’ bowlers maintained relentless pressure, with Harmeet Singh and Ben Lister also contributing crucial wickets.
