Canada’s Kirton eyes Pakistan heist after 1st-ever T20 World Cup win

New Delhi,UPDATED: Jun 8, 2024 00:28 IST

Nicholas Kirton was over the moon after Canada secured their maiden win in the T20 World Cup. On Friday, June 7, Canada pulled off a major upset after beating Paul Stirling’s Ireland by 12 runs at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. Kirton won the Player of the Match award after he scored 49 runs off 35 balls with the help of 3 fours and 2 sixes.

Kirton said that his 75-run partnership with Shreyas Movva for the fifth wicket was crucial in the context of the game. It was on the back of their stand, Canada put up a decent score of 137 for 7 on the board.

Canada vs Ireland: HIGHLIGHTS

"It's very good to get over the line. I just tried to get in, and tried to get the pace of the wicket. Played a bit up and down, but it was a very good wicket to bat on - to be honest. The partnership with Movva was very important. Hopefully we can go from strength to strength,” Kirton was quoted as saying after the match.

Dilon Heyliger and Jeremy Gordon picked up 2 wickets apiece as Canada restricted Ireland to 125 for 7. Junaid Siddiqui and skipper Saad Bin Zafar also accounted for a scalp apiece.

‘One day at a time’

After taking down Ireland, Kirton said that Canada are looking forward to facing Pakistan, who lost to the United States in their previous match in Dallas.

“Our next focus is Pakistan! Better purchase on offer [on the pitch]. We are just taking it one day at a time," Kirton added.

Canada’s match against Pakistan is on Tuesday, June 11 at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium in New York. In their only meeting back in 2010, Pakistan beat Canada by 35 runs at the Maple Leaf North-West Ground in King City. Salman Butt won the award for the Player of the Match award after he scored 74 runs off 56 balls.