Tallawahs quicks hand Patriots 108-run thrashing

The Jamaica Tallawahs pace bowlers led them closer to the top spot in the CPL table by wrapping up St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for 75 in 15.5 overs to secure a 108-run win in Kingston.

The margin was second-highest for a victory in the CPL, and incidentally, the record for the highest margin belongs to Patriots’ 119-run win against Tallawahs. Tallawahs’ win on Saturday was their fourth in six matches, placing them a point behind Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Patriots’ chase of 184 didn’t get the start they wanted as Andre Russell removed Lendl Simmons for a duck on the third ball of the first over, which conceded only one run. Steyn also stifled with an equally economical first over.

Russell was clubbed for a four and six by Faf du Plessis in the third over, before having the batsman caught at cover point in the same over for 12. Evin Lewis and Jonathan Carter also got starts but fast bowler Kesrick Williams derailed the chase by taking three wickets – of Carter, Lewis and Brad Hodge – in four balls in the ninth over, to reduce Patriots to 53 for 5.

Like Hodge, Devon Thomas also fell for a first-ball duck in the next over before Steyn and Shakib Al Hasan wiped out the tail, as Patriots lost their last eight wickets for only 22 runs. While Williams finished with 3 for 19, Russell, Steyn and Shakib took two apiece with economy rates of less than six each.

When Tallawahs were asked to bat, they lost their openers Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle cheaply but Kumar Sangakkara steered them towards a competitive total with a half-century, his first of the tournament in six innings.

He forged crucial partnerships with Rovman Powell – 74 in 7.1 overs – and Andre Russell – 45 in 5.2 overs. When Sangakkara fell for 65 in the 16th over, Shakib provided a late surge with an unbeaten 34 off 17 balls, including five fours and a six, to take them to 183, a total that proved to be too much for Patriots. (ESPNCricinfo)

Photo caption: Keswick Williams led the Jamaica Tallawahs attack with three wickets (CPL/Sportsfile)