The opening match of the 2024 T20 World Cup turned into a six-hitting fest courtesy of an Aaron Jones special, as USA hunted down a record 195 against Canada in Dallas.
When Jones launched his tenth and final six of the night and roared in delight, the USA completed a record chase to usurp Canada's total of 194, starting their T20 World Cup debut in style.
Jones started steadily: he was one off the first five balls as the USA trickled to 48-2, well behind their required run rate. A 19-run over changed things, kickstarting the Jones-Andries Gous partnership that lasted 58 deliveries and 131 runs.
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T20 World Cup schedule: Full fixtures list can be found here
It included a 33-run over by Jeremy Gordon that turned the chase into a cakewalk. Three wides and two no-balls stretched the over to 11 deliveries. Gous was caught in the deep off the third delivery, but replays showed that Gordon had overstepped. It went awry for Canada after that.
Gous eventually departed for a 46-ball 65 two overs later, but Jones carried on, finishing on an unbeaten 94 off just 40 balls.
Only Chris Gayle (11) has hit more sixes in a T20 World Cup innings.
My time will come to shine. Never give up.
— Aaron Jones (@Macca_Jones) May 1, 2013
Earlier, powered by Navneet Dhaliwal's 61 (44) and Nicholas Kirton and Shreyas Movva's late thrust, Canada posted 194-5, the highest total by an Associate Nation at the World Cup. Harmeet Singh was the most economical bowler, conceding just 27 runs in his four overs, helped along by sharp fielding from his USA teammates.
Unfortunately, Canada's record lasted less than two hours as the USA pulled off their biggest chase in all T20Is.
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Canada suffered from fielding lapses and conceded 19 extras – nine more than USA – as their initial stronghold over USA's batters slipped, and the tide turned completely with Jones and Gous' stand.
"I don't think it's easy to put into words," Jones remarked after the game, adding that he knew "anything under 200 was chase-able" because the "wicket was good" and the "outfield was fast".
"I know once I hit it in the middle it will go for sure," he said about his power-hitting.
USA have lost just one game this year, to Bangladesh in their 2-1 series win, having already defeated Canada four T20Is in a row in April.
