Magical Russell’s unbeaten 121 puts TKR to the stake

Hero CPL 2018 Match 3

Andre Russell led his team to an inspiring four-wicket win over Defending champions, Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) with the first century of the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League on Friday evening in Trinidad.

The Queen’s Park Oval witnessed their home side bow out to a rampaging Russell as Tallawahs successfully chased down 224 for victory.
Batting first, TKR capitalized on the short boundaries and loose Tallawahs bowling as they stormed to 223-6 in their allotted overs. It was an entertaining batting performance from the home side that were led, yet again, by an aggressive half century from Colin Munro, who top scored with 61.
Opener Chris Lynn, in his first season with the TKR, bounced backed from his opening match score of 8 to contribute 46 at the top of the order.
Brendon McCullum (56) also cashed in on a good score after being dismissed for just 13 in the previous match. Darren Bravo got a healthy strike rate going but was stopped on 29 when he was bowled by Tallawahs captain Russell.
In reply, Tallawahs found themselves in hot water early on as Ali Khan’s magic mesmerised the Jamaican top order.Ali Khan and Shannon Gabriel were the chief destroyers for the Tallawahs with them removing the first four batsmen in under five overs. At one point, Russell’s side was 16-4.
Glenn Phillips (06), Andre McCarthy (00) and the big wicket of Ross Taylor were claimed by Khan while Gabriel, storming in at the other end, removed Rovman Powell for just one.
Johnson Charles launched a fight back with a 5-boundary score of 24, however, Fawad Ahmed’s introduction meant the end of Johnson. He fell lbw to the leg-break bowler and JT were 41-5.
When Russell met Kennar Lewis in the middle, the equation kept looking more than possible with the skipper going hard at the Trinbago bowling attack. Dre Russ could have been dismissed on the first ball but Khan misjudged a simple catch at backward square leg off Ahmed.
Russell’s brief time in the middle saw him record a 22-ball fifty which included six sixes. After reaching the landmark, he raged on as the home crowd became quieter by the delivery.
Meanwhile, Lewis (51) played an excellent role at the other end, getting the strike turned over as often as possible to the fire blower. He also recorded a half century but departed when JT needed 22 from 14.
That did not seem to faze Russell who carried on to his second CPL century in just 40 deliveries. His first, ironically, was also against TKR. In that inning, he needed just 42 balls to reach triple figures.Not much can be said about this man-of-the-match performance except for, it was one worth watching.
In the final over, JT needed six from six balls and Narine was given the chance to do something special, but it was Russell night. Imad Wasim turned the strike over on the second ball allowing Russell to finish it emphatically, with a six over long on to reach 225-6.
Russell was left unbeaten on 121 which was laced with 13 sixes, the record amount, and four boundaries. His strike rate was a magnificent one of above 246 from his 49 deliveries.
Earlier in the evening, the Tallawahs won the toss and gave the opposition first strike on a very familiar track.
After the early dismissal of Sunil Narine in the second over for 7, the combination of Lynn and Munro produced a 98-run partnership which rocked the visitors.
Both batsmen slammed three maximums but Munroe picked five boundaries while Lynn had four. It was already Munro’s second fifty in two matches.
Denesh Ramdin was unlucky on Friday evening, recording a first ball duck compliments of Russell. He missed the opportunity to toggle his aggregate following his unbeaten 50 in the season opener.
Even though Russell took 3 – 38, they could not stop TKR from scoring. Krishmar Santokie, Imam Wasim and Adam Zampa each took a wicket as Javon Searles brought the innings to a close with a six off Russell; a slower full ball that went sailing over the wide long-on boundary. (Kizan Brumell)