Cricket

Aaron Johnson's valiant 52 was a beacon of hope for Canada as they faced a formidable Pakistan in the Group A clash of the T20 World Cup in New York on June 11. However, Pakistan's inspired bowling attack restricted Canada to a modest 106/7, effectively extinguishing their chances of victory.On a challenging wicket that featured uneven bounce, Johnson stood tall for Canada, waging a lone battle against the Pakistani bowlers. His 44-ball knock was studded with four sixes and as many fours, showcasing his power and determination. However, despite his heroics, the rest of the Canadian batting lineup struggled to find their rhythm.Mohammad Amir led the Pakistani bowling attack with an impressive 4-0-13-2, while Haris Rauf chipped in with 2/26. Shaheen Shah Afridi (1/21) and Naseem Shah (1/24) also played their part, recovering well after wayward starts.Johnson's innings was a testament to his resilience and attacking mindset. He did not shy away from taking on the Pakistani bowlers, even when the odds were stacked against him. His hits down the ground were particularly impressive, as he managed to clear the ropes with brute force despite not always timing the ball perfectly.However, shortly after reaching his half-century, Johnson's resistance came to an end when he missed a delivery from Naseem Shah and was clean bowled. With Johnson's dismissal, Canada's hopes of posting a competitive total dwindled.Skipper Saad Bin Zafar (10) and Kaleem Sana (13) managed to guide Canada past the 100-run mark, but it was a far cry from the total they needed to challenge Pakistan.The pressure was evident from the outset as Shaheen began with two full tosses on the pads, which Johnson dispatched for boundaries. Johnson continued to punish the Pakistani bowlers, sending a delivery from Naseem flying over the field on the off-side for a third four.Pakistan's first breakthrough came through Mohammad Amir, who dismissed Navneet Dhaliwal on the final ball of his opening over. Shaheen returned with a change of ends to get Pargat Singh (2) caught behind by Fakhar Zaman, as Pakistan tightened their grip on the match.Imad Wasim then produced a direct hit from cover to catch Nicholas Kirton (1) backing up too far at the non-striker's end, piling further pressure on Johnson. Haris Rauf produced a double-wicket 10th over to have Shreyas Movva (2) caught behind and Ravinderpal Singh (0) caught in the first slip, leaving Canada reeling at 54 for five.