Sherfane Rutherford and Andre Russell step up as Tigers defeat Jaguars to win GT20 title

After a thrilling last-ball triumph over the Surrey Jaguars, the Montreal Tigers were crowned the winners of the third season of Global T20 Canada, and the TD Cricket Arena in Brampton was packed to capacity. The Montreal Tigers needed five wickets to reach the score of 131.

The Montreal Tigers won the match thanks to a match-winning partnership of 29 runs in just twelve balls forged by Sherfane Rutherford (38*) and Andre Russell (20*). Jatinder Singh’s (56*) half-century and Iftikhar Ahmed’s (2/8) cunning spell kept the Jaguars in the hunt until the very last delivery.

After winning the toss, the Montreal Tigers elected to field first. After a cautious start by openers Mohammed Haris (23) and Jatinder Singh (56*), the Surrey Jaguars ended the powerplay at 35/0. Jatinder Singh scored an undefeated half-century to serve as the innings’ cornerstone. In the sixth over, Afzal Khan gave the Tigers their first breakthrough by trapping a well-positioned Mohammad Haris (23).

After joining Jatinder Singh, Litton Das (12) carried on rotating the strike and reducing danger. Ten overs in, the Jaguars were 58/1 at this point.

Litton Das (12) was soon eliminated by A. Afzal Khan in the eleventh over. In an attempt to advance the scoreboard, captain Iftikhar Ahmed (8) lost his wicket to a low full ball by Carlos Brathwaite. Before Abbas Afridi cleaned him up in the nineteenth over, Ayaan Khan (26), who had come in for the Jaguars, produced a much-needed quick-fire knock in the death overs in just 15 deliveries. In his final over, Andre Russell bowled brilliantly, giving up just seven runs and taking out Matthew Forde (1). The Surrey Jaguars concluded with a respectable 130/5 total.

The answer from the Montreal Tigers got off to a rough start. Spencer Johnson bowled Muhammad Waseem (0) with a ripper after he had lost a catch. By the time the powerplay ended, the Tigers were sitting pretty at 35/1. Srimantha Wijeyeratne (12), who came in at number three, was unable to convert his start. However, Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed opener Chris Lynn (31) in the eleventh over despite Lynn’s solid batting to make a crucial contribution. To turn the tide back in favour of the Jaguars, Iftikhar Ahmed dismissed Dilpreet Singh (15), who was also getting his eye in, in the same over.

The Montreal Tigers had six wickets in hand and needed 53 runs in five overs. Iftikhar Ahmed gave up just one run in the sixteenth over, making it difficult for Sherfane Rutherford (38), and Dipendra Singh (16) to score runs against him. In the eighteenth over, Rutherford dismissed Matthew Forde with two sixes and a four, reducing the required score to 25 runs off of twelve balls. To bring out the dangerous Andre Russell (20), Dipendra Singh withdrew.

Also Read: Global T20 Canada: Abbas Afridi, Sherfane Rutherford heroics push Montreal Tigers to the final

In the penultimate over, Spencer Johnson gave up 12 runs to Russell and Rutherford. Pacer Ammar Khalid was unable to hold Andre Russell when two runs were needed off the final ball. Russell hit his second maximum of the over to win the trophy for the Montreal Tigers. The Montreal Tigers had a 135/5 final score.