An historic T20 World Cup gets under way this weekend, with the United States and Canada meeting in a rematch of the inaugural cricket match in 1844.
The tournament is set to take place in those countries and the West Indies, who face Papua New Guinea in their opening group game on Sunday.
The sport is broadening its horizons with this year’s tournament and this spectacle is hoping to attract plenty of new fans to the game.
T20 World Cup weekend tips
- Aaron Johnson top Canada runscorer @ 2/1
- Nicholas Pooran top West Indies runscorer @ 5/2
- Alzarri Joseph top West Indies wicket-taker @ 23/10
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Johnson key to Canadian hopes
The United States and Canada meet in this first game of the T20 World Cup, with this clash taking place in Texas in the early hours of Sunday morning.
These two teams have met plenty of times in recent years and the US tend to have the upper hand.
Canada are the lowest ranked nation in this tournament and lost a five-game T20 series between the nations 4-0 recently.
The US also beat Bangladesh 2-1 in a T20 series so have shown they can mix it with the more established nations.
As a result, the hosts are favourites to win but there is not much juice in their price and it may pay to look elsewhere for a selection.
One of the only bright points in Canada’s 4-0 series defeat to these opponents was the performances with the bat of Aaron Johnson, the only Canucks player to make more than 100 runs.
He averaged 31 in that series and in ODIs and T20Is he has an impressive average of 73.50 against the United States’ primary bowlers.
Take Johnson to top-score for Canada in this one.
Pooran in fine form
Nicholas Pooran has been one of the West Indies’ best attacking weapons in recent years and he goes into this T20 World Cup in impressive nick.
The 28-year-old top-scored for his country with 75 in his side’s win over Australia in their final warm-up game.
Pooran’s last four T20 scores are 75, 75, 61 and 48 not out, with the last three coming for Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League.
If the number three can replicate those efforts, he looks a solid bet to be top scorer for the West Indies in their opener against Papua New Guinea.
Joseph’s pace could be key
Alzarri Joseph took 2/44 in the West Indies’ win over Australia and his express pace could cause plenty of issues for this Papua New Guinea batting line-up.
The 27-year-old has a T20I average of 21.45 and is a strong candidate to be top wicket-taker for the hosts in this opening game.
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