The Toronto Nationals beat the Brampton Wolves in the Qualifier 2 of the 2024 Global T20 Canada by five wickets. Bowling first, Romario Shepherd’s four-wicket haul helped them curb the Wolves to 141 runs amidst Nick Hobson’s gritty 51. In reply, Colin Munro’s 36 set up the chase for them before Muhammad Nawaz anchored the side. Eventually, Romario showed his glitz with the bat to steer the Nationals to the Grand Finale of Global T20 against the Montreal Tigers.
Match Summary
Toss: Toronto Nationals won the toss and elected to field first.
Brampton Wolves Innings: 141/8 in 20 overs 
- Nick Hobson: 51*(34)
- Jack Jarvis: 20 (15)
- Key Bowler: Romario Shepherd (4/32)
Toronto Nationals Innings: 143/5 in 18.2 overs
- Colin Munro: 36 (20)
- Mohammad Nawaz: 24* (27)
- Key Bowler: Akhil Kumar: (3/31)
Key Moments
Powerplay Dominance
The Toronto side were quick to hit the right areas at the CAA Centre, Brampton as Jason Behrendorff and Romario Shepherd tried to build the pressure in the Global T20 Qualifier 2. Following a two-run first over, David Warner thrashed three back-to-back fours against Romario before the pair hunted the openers – Kobe Herft and Warner – reducing them to 28/2 in five overs. With the powerplay score extending to 38, Jatinderpal Matharu’s first spell further rocked the Wolves on the back foot as their scorecard read 60/0 in ten overs.
Rebuilding the Castle
George Munsey is an experienced batter who’s used to rebuilding an innings against the spinners and medium pacers. He played in a similar role for the Wolves in the Global T20 Qualifier 2 clash. Although Munsey failed to convert his twenties, his ally Nick Hobson extended the hard work throughout the innings. Hobson’s unbridled 51 assisted the Wolves to gather 81 runs in the second half of the first innings. Despite a couple of wickets in the slog overs, the Aussie ensured the Wolves reach a fighting 141/8 in 20 overs.
Opening Blitz
The Nationals got off to a flying start in the Global T20 Qualifier, courtesy of Unmukt Chand and Colin Munro. The duo have had their shares of success in the ongoing tournament and have been a force to reckon with the bat.
While Chand scored at a rate of almost run-a-ball, Munro tried to punish the looseners from the Wolves bowlers. Despite a six and a couple of fours, the former India U19 captain faced too many dot balls. But Munro’s natural game helped the Nationals to gather 57 runs for the opening partnership before the right-hander got outsmarted by Andrew Tye in the sixth over.
Patchy Middle Overs
Despite a flying start in a low-scoring chase of 142-run, the Nationals’ middle order suffered a drastic collapse. Munro followed suit his opening ally, Chand, in the seventh over with Andries Gous and Rassie van der Dussen eating up way too many balls. The former struck at a rate of 100 while the latter’s strike rate reflected 63.64. The Munro-led unit eventually lost four wickets in a space of 54 balls at the brink of the 16th over, scoring just 50 runs in the period.
The Reignition
The equation read 31 runs required off the last five overs with Muhammad Nawaz and Rassie at either end of the crease. While the latter failed to produce spark getting out for 14 off 22 balls in the 16th over, the arrival of Romario Shepherd pinched hopes in the Nationals’ dugout. Nawaz and Romario coupled periodic fours with excellent strike rotation bringing down the equation to seven needed off the last two overs. The Guyanese all-rounder hastened the chasing process with back-to-back fours against Akhil Kumar in the 19th over to steer the Nationals to the Global T20 main event against the Montreal Tigers.
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