Published: Jul 03, 2016, 01:44 AM (IST)
Edited: Jul 03, 2016, 02:18 AM (IST)
Jamaican Tallawahs (JAM) edge past St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (STKNP) by 5 runs in the fourth match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2016 at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts. It was an absolute cliffhanger, as the fortune swayed from one team to the other until the last over of the match. When STKNP needed 30 off the last over, it seemed like an uphill task for them. But, wicketkeeper-batsman Devon Thomas plundered three consecutive sixes and brought the crowd on its feet. However, it was too late, as they needed 8 off the last ball, with Thomas scoring only 2 runs off it. Read: Hashim Amla, Dwayne Bravo broke 9-year-old record in CPL 2016
JAM’s skipper Chris Gayle started off the proceeding by putting the scoreboard on fire. Despite losing opening partner Chadwick Walton in the first over, he went berserk and smashed 36-ball fifty to put his team in a commanding position. Nonetheless, it was Andre Russel who used the long handle to blasting effect and scored 34 off just 20 to help JAM post 153 on the scoreboard.
In the pursuit of achieving a competitive target, STKNP scored runs at in brisk rate in the batting powerplay. With Faf du Plesssis and Jonathan Carter taking the attack to the opposition, they needed 62 off just 48 balls. STKNP were in total control of the run-chase. But with these two dismissed in quick succession, STKNP never seemed to have made a comeback. Read: TKR triumph by 11 runs against BIM in Match 3 of Caribbean Premier League
On the other hand, South Africa’s ace bowler Dale Steyn was right on the money, as his figures read 4-0-21-1. He, along with Shakib Al Hasan and Kesrick Williams, didn’t give away easy runs in the death overs and helped their team start the campaign on a winning note.
Brief scorecard:
Jamaican Tallawahs 153/7 (Chris Gayle 51 (36), Andre Russel 34 (20); Kesrick Williams 3 for 23, Dale Steyn 1 for 21) beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 148/7 (Lendl Simmons 29 (29), Jonathan Carter 27 (18); Thisara Perera 2 for 28, Tabraiz Shamsi (2 for 17) by 5 runs
Player of the Match: Kesrick Williams
