Canada emerged victorious over Ireland in a thrilling T20 World Cup match, thanks to Nicholas Kirton’s impressive 49-run knock.
This historic win marks Canada’s first-ever victory in the tournament, and it comes on the heels of the USA’s shocking upset over Pakistan, which has thrown the group wide open.
The highly anticipated match saw Ireland’s Paul Stirling opt to bowl first on a pitch that had been stripped of its grass and rolled to perfection.
Despite a sparse crowd of 5,153, the Canadians rose to the occasion, posting a formidable total thanks to Kirton’s skillful play. The Barbados-born batsman, a former West Indies Under-19 player, smashed two sixes and several fours, setting the tone for Canada’s triumph.
Ireland’s batting struggles continued, with key wickets falling due to a combination of smart bowling and poor shot selection. Despite a brief resurgence from Adair and Dockrell, Ireland finally fell short, unable to overcome the deficit.
Canada’s deserved win marks an outstanding milestone for the Associate member of the ICC, who had come close against the USA in their opening game but this time held their nerve to secure victory.
Captain Paul Stirling acknowledged Ireland’s subpar performance, stating, “We weren’t really at the races throughout. We started pretty slowly and that continued throughout the day.”
Nicholas Kirton, the Player of the Match, expressed his delight, saying, “It’s very good to get our first win in the World Cup, hopefully we can continue from strength to strength.” This upset victory has injected new life into Canada’s campaign, and they will look to build on this momentum in their upcoming matches.