Cricket Global T20 Canada 2023

'The beast has done it again' - Fans ecstatic as Andre Russell's monstrous strike powers Montreal Tigers to GT20 Canada victory

Andre Russell's monster hit propelled Montreal Tigers to GT20 Canada 2023 glory, defeating Surrey Jaguars by five wickets in the final.

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Daniel S
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GT20 Canada 2023 final

GT20 Canada 2023 final (Source: Twitter)

Montreal Tigers defeated Surrey Jaguars by five wickets in a nail-biting final over drama on Sunday (August 6) to win the 2023 Global T20 Canada championship. An all-round bowling effort helped Tigers restrict their opponents to 130/5, and Andre Russell's late-match heroics propelled his side to win the summit shutdown at the TD Cricket Arena in Brampton, Ontario.

Needing 24 from 12 balls, Russell (20* off 6 balls) and Sherfane Rutherford (38* off 29 balls) held their nerve to pull off an incredible win with a 29-run partnership. Russell sent Spencer Johnson's first ball of the 19th over for a boundary and on the third ball, his compatriot smashed it over the ropes to shift the momentum in Tigers' favour.

The two Caribbean storms raised the Tigers' camp with high expectations. When 12 required off 5, Russell hammered the second ball of the last over for a maximum and clinched his team's maiden GT20 Canada victory with a monster shot into the stands on the final ball.

“We work hard for these moments. I was so nervous,” Russell said after the win. “I may have looked cool but I was nervous. A last-ball six. These are moments you live for," the 35-year-old added.

That's why they're here: Tigers captain Lynn on Rutherford and Russell's knock

Chasing 131 runs, Tigers suffered an early setback when they lost opener Muhammad Waseem for a 3-ball duck in the very first over. Skipper Chris Lynn and Srimantha Wijeratne then tried to build a partnership before the latter was removed in the seventh over for 12 off 15. Lynn's strike rate was below 100, but his 31 runs were critical to their victory.

"I hope everyone in Canada was watching that because that's what we're about, that's why we're here, to entertain and put on a show. That's why they're here; they're big-game players (on Rutherford and Russell)," said Lynn.

Jaguars captain Iftikhar Ahmed had an off-day with the bat (8 off 9 balls), but he was brilliant with the ball, picking up two wickets in four overs by conceding just 8 runs. Earlier, Jatinder Singh smashed a 56-ball 57 and Ayaan Khan scored a brisk 15-ball 26 to help Jaguars post a decent total on the board.

Here's how Twitter reacted to Montreal Tigers winning the Global T20 Canada: 

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