Hometown hero Johnson Charles ensured the fans at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground had a night to remember as he scored an entertaining knock of 62 to help the St Lucia Kings chase down 164 in match nine of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022.
Kings celebrating a wicket
Tallawahs had posted 163-8 in 20 overs, on the back of Raymon Reifer’s brilliant 62, but Kings ended victorious on 164-8, to claim the match by two wickets.
In the chase of 164, Kings lost early wickets. Niroshan Dickwella was the first dismissed for 10, caught by a diving Kennar Lewis with the gloves. Mohammad Amir then produced a top delivery to destroy the stumps of Faf du Plessis, who went for a second-ball duck.
Charles then continued, and he was joined by West Indies Under-19 Captain Ackeem Augueste. The left-handed Auguste did not last long, as he departed for four when Chris Green made a mess of his stumps at 34-3 in 5.4 overs.
While Charles continued to score, Roston Chase departed for three. Tim David, who recently earned a maiden call-up to the Australia team, came and struck the ball clean as he and Charles saw Kings reach 72-4 in 10 overs.
David then departed for 20 when he was caught off the bowling of Imad Wasim, who ended with economical figures of 2-15 from four overs. Charles got the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground fans on their feet, as he took on Reifer, but the Barbadian got the final say. Charles made a 39-ball 62, decorated with four sixes and the same number of fours. He was caught at deep cover by the safe Allen at 114-6 in 14.4 overs.
The experienced Amir then removed Primus (20) with a sharp bouncer at 143-7, with the equation reading 21 from 14 balls. Wiese ensured no further hiccups as Scott Kuggeleijn supported in the end.
Earlier, Kings won the toss and opted to bowl. The Tallawahs had an unfamiliar start as they lost Lewis at 38-1 after four overs. He chopped on for 19, after facing 15 balls and striking two sixes and one four.
Shamarh Brooks came and went first ball, and the home crowd started to roar when he was trapped by left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal. The Jamaican franchise lost their third wicket in the powerplay, this time it was skipper Rovman Powell (07), who was caught in the deep. He had struck Alzarri Joseph for a clean six, but the pacer got sweet revenge.
At 47-3, Brandon King watched his partners fell from the other end. He lacked intent and he was run out for 19 to leave the Tallawahs reeling on 62-4 in 8.1 overs. The underrated Reifer then came and dropped anchor, along with the Pakistani Wasim. At the half-way stage, Kings were in control, with Joseph bowling the fastest ball (151kph) of the tournament to date, and adding to his wickets as leading bowler this season.
Reifer continued to keep the innings together, and he played some innovative and delightful shots. He lost Wasim for 20 from 23 balls, when he was brilliantly taken by Tim David. Reifer had already did his job, as he scored 62 from 41 balls, an innings decorated with four sixes and four fours. He had departed with Tallawahs on 151-6 in 19 overs.
A mixed last over that included a six from Migael Pretorius and a wicket for David Wiese, saw the Tallawahs ending on 163-8 in 20 overs. Kiwi fast bowler Kuggeleijn had 3-44 while Wiese had 2-31. The CPL continues today at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground with Guyana Amazon Warriors battling St Kitts and Nevis Patriots from 10:00h, while Kings will play Barbados Royals from 19:00h.
