10 sixes, record chase for USA: It's Aaron Jones show at T20 World Cup opener

NEW DELHI: The USA vice-captain, Aaron Jones, showcased an incredible performance in the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup opener, leading his team to a resounding seven-wicket victory over Canada at the Grand Prairie Stadium in Dallas. This match marked the USA's T20 World Cup debut, setting a strong precedent for the tournament.
Chasing a challenging target of 195 set by Canada, the USA faced early setbacks, losing opener Steven Taylor in the first over and finding themselves at 42/2 in the seventh over.
As it happened: USA vs Canada
However, the arrival of Aaron Jones turned the game around. Jones scored a spectacular unbeaten 94 off just 40 balls, hitting 10 sixes and forming a crucial 131-run partnership for the third wicket with Andries Gous. Gous contributed significantly with his 65 off 46 balls, including three sixes and seven fours.

By the time the partnership was broken in the 16th over, the USA needed just 22 runs from 26 deliveries. Jones ensured a swift finish, hitting a four and two sixes off Nikhil Dutta in the 18th over, allowing the USA to complete the chase with 14 balls to spare. This became the highest successful chase for the USA in T20Is.
Jones, awarded the 'Player of the Match,' expressed his delight, stating, "I don't think it is easy to put it into words. Happy to get my team over the line. I thought anything under 200 is chaseable. We wanted to play aggressive cricket. I think I go through my process while I practice. To be honest, when my team is under pressure it gets the best out of me."

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, although not part of the Indian squad for this tournament, praised the USA and Jones on social media platform X. Ashwin posted, "Aaron Jones plays for the Seattle Orcas and is putting on a show tonight to light up the World Cup opener. USA are showing us why they managed to topple Bangladesh in the lead up to this World T20."


Aaron Jones, the 29-year-old right-handed batter, is a key player for the USA cricket team. Born in Queens, New York, Jones has a rich cricketing background that includes representing Barbados in first-class cricket before making his debut for the USA in 2019.
Career Highlights:

Jones's explosive innings in the T20 World Cup opener against Canada, where he scored an unbeaten 94 and led the USA to a seven-wicket victory, underscores his importance to the team.