GT20 Canada gets to a festive start

Brampton, hoping to be future cricket capital of Canada, could not have asked for more. Initial or teething problems notwithstanding, the big cricket, GT20 Canada, retuned to this city of immigrants. But it was rain that played spoil sport.
Brampton Wolves were just 31 runs short of target with more than 10 overs to spare when rain forced the abandonment of the game.
Aaron Johnson 48 and Mark 30 were on the crease after an undefeated 68-run second wicket partnership. As the rain started, wickets were covered as the organizers expressed hopes that weather would be suitable for the weekend games that feature Pakistan’s Shahid Afridi.
Though most of the stands had fewer spectators than expected but as the day progressed and Azam, a local hero, got going with his some big hits, the stands started overflowing. When Mississauga Panthers ended their innings at 121 on the last ball the crowd was all over asking for selfies and autographs with their heroes, especially Chris Gayle.
Mississauga Panthers  came  to bat first with Chris Gayle at the non striking end .
On the very  third ball of the tournament , first wicket went down , a  run out, as video umpire ruled.  Chris wanted to steal a single which was not there.
Navi Dhaliwal , who came next,  was
Greeted by first  boundary of the match by Chris an excellent cover drive followed by a rasping drive through extra cover for second successive boundary.
Sixth over a skier by Chris saw his exit caught at short extra cover
In came Shoaib Malik, captain of the team, with two wickets down but he too did not last long.
First sixer came in the 13th over by Azam Khan.
Neesham came in the 14th over after a fruitful fourth wicket
partnership ended. But
Neesham  was adjudged  leg before while trying to sweep an off stump delivery in 15th over  as the team slumped to 85/5.
Azam’s towering six over long on his second  followed by another mighty hit over the long on fence to took the score to 97/5
Azam completed his 50 as Panthers reached three figure mark in the 17th over
After 18, it was 106 for five
Sheet anchor Usman went  for 2 to make it 106/6
Local boy Buttar who came next, made a suicidal call for a run to ran himself out  to make the score  106/7 in 18.2 overs
It  was Parveen who joined  Azam in slog overs and pulled one over mid wicket for six to signal his arrival.
In the last over  after an outside edge went to fine keg boundary for four Azam  went caught at deep cover
Dutta comes in faced a wide , hits out but is caught at deep mid wicket for nought . khan comes to replace him
But was  run out while attempting second run .
Brampton Wolves started on an aggressive note with their openers particularly  Aaron  Johnson severe on  all bowlers    by smashing all loose balls for a six and a couple of boundaries.
Shoaib comes to attack and was greeted with a massive six and the next ball was swept through fine leg for a four. His pain did not end there as the third ball was pulled over mid wicket for a boundary . A single on the fourth brought leftie Mark on the  striking end .
Brampton Wolves  had earlier lost their first wicket in the thitd over
For Brampton Wolves 50 runs were on board by the end of 5 th over, 55/1.
Shoaib’s second over was no different as he was hit for a boundary and a six by left handed Mark. And as if punishment was not enough Shoaib was hit for another boundary on the last ball of his second over.
As thick clouds started hanging low over the  ground portending some rain, Wolves  accelerated their pace with a spate of boundaries as the score raced to 83/1 after 6.5 overs with Aron on 40 (of 19 deliveries) and Mark on 23.
Shoaib brought in Nikhil Dutta in his place to stem the run rate  but Aaron slammed his first  ball over mid wicket for a six. The score was 91/1 after 7.4 overs with Aaron on 48 not out and Nark 30 not out when rain stopped play wth total at 99/1.