Another astounding performance from the Jamaica Tallawahs led them to a 47-run victory over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to make it three consecutive wins, and an absolute excellent start to their campaign of the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Jamaica Tallawahs celebrate the dismissal of Evin Lewis
It seemed the Tallawahs had more than enough in the tank to steamroll the Patriots in front of their home crowd at Sabina Park in Kingston on Wednesday evening, after disposing of a luckless St Lucia Stars on Tuesday.
The tournament leaders, Tallawahs, are now on six points while the Guyana Amazon Warriors are second on four points.
Patriots won the toss and gave Tallahwas the first strike. They were able to post 178-4 before the overs expired, a target that proved an uphill task for a squad which included the likes of Chris Gayle, Devon Thomas and skipper Carlos Brathwaite.
Ross Taylor top scoring for the Jamaica Tallawahs with an unbeaten 51 off 35 which included two fours and four sixes
The St Kitts team eventually got to 131-9 in their allotted overs. Gayle did top score for his side, but with just 24 to his name and Mahmudullah’s 22, Patriots made a mess of the chase.
On the other hand, a disciplined bowling attack was what made the challenge quite tuff for the visiting side.
Krishmar Santokie led with 2 – 13 and was resolutely supported by Imad Wasim and Adam Zampa who had 2 – 21 and 2 – 38, respectively. A wicket each also went to Oshane Thomas, Steven Jacobs and Andre Russell.
Evin Lewis (00) and Tom Cooper (07) were back in the dugout in underway five overs as Patriots slumped to 9 – 2. Gayle cautiously launched back but was the next to fall when he held out to Oshane Thomas off Steven Jacobs.
The wickets continued to fall; Devon Thomas (10), Anton Devcich (11), Ben Cutting (02), Mahmudullah, Brathwaite (10) and Sheldon Cottrell (18) were all part of the paltry effort.
Jeremiah Louis (11) and Sandeep Lamichhane (02) were the final two batsmen left standing, the final pair.
Earlier in the night, it was the openers who began the show for the Tallawahs. Kennar Lewis moved up the order and played an entertaining innings which included four maximums and an equal amount of fours but got out on 49 after facing 24 deliveries.
His partner, Glen Phillips faced a bit more of the Patriots bowling but was still effective in his 41-run performance that took 38 balls to construct.
Patriots struck in quick succession with the removal of Lewis and then new batsman Andre McCarthy without scoring.
However, Ross Taylor immediately made amends for missing out on scoring in the first two matches and rebounded with an aggressive 51. The 35-ball innings was just what the doctor ordered to keep the run rate pumping; it was laced with two fours and four sixes.
Rovman Powell tried to get into his stride but 18 was all he could muster before he fell to Brathwaite in the 17th over.
Russell was left unbeaten once again on ten alongside the experienced New Zealander, Taylor.
Meanwhile, Lamichhane finished with 2 – 21 while Brathwaite and Cutting had one each.
Tallawahs will face the Guyana Amazon Warriors in their next match on Saturday, August 18 in Florida while Patriots take on St Lucia Stars next Tuesday, August 21, at Gros Islet, St Lucia.