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 yesterday.

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 qualify for the final tomorrow at the same venue, where the Knights and the Montreal Tigers will meet in the preliminary final today to determine the other final spot.

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

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

Later in the second match of a double-header, 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, and Russell conceded 28 in four wicket-less overs, and the Wolves were bowled out for 104 in their 20 overs after they were put in to 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.