Published: Aug 31, 2017, 01:22 PM (IST)
Edited: Aug 31, 2017, 01:24 PM (IST)
Sri Lanka might be going through one of its worst phases in their cricketing chronicles but there is no stopping Kumar Sangakkara. Having retired 2 years from the game, the Sri Lankan stalwart continues to score at will and this time he shone for Jamaica Tallawahs (JT) against the Chris Gayle-led St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (SKNP) to help his side enter the CPL 2017 play-offs. Sanga’s 55-ball 69 helped the Jamaican side triumph by 41 runs at Sabina Park in Kingston. The other chief architects for the Jamaican win were young pacer Oshane Thomas and Krishmar Santokie, who claimed 3-wickets each.
SNKP elected to field and were off to a great start with Lendl Simmons falling in the first ball of the match. Sangakkara and New Zealander Glenn Philips (31) added 81 for the second wicket and the innings got a late boost from Rovman Powell, who slammed a 26-ball 43 to help JT finish with 157 for 5 from their 20 overs. It was a homecoming for Gayle, who was playing against his ex-franchise and at his home ground — Sabina Park. The Gayle force could not replicate the success of his opponent skipper as he fell to the third ball of the innings, cleaned-up by Thomas for a duck. Evin Lewis’ 17-ball 40 raised hopes but JT bowlers were on the mark. While Thomas got the key wickets of Gayle, Carlos Brathwaite and Mohammad Nabi, Santokie stifled the opponents for runs and finished with 3.5-1-10-3.
SKNP were bowled out in the 18th over for 116. The defeat pushed them to the third spot in the table as JT elevated to the second spot, with 6 wins from 9 games. They have also qualified for the play-offs.
Brief Scores:
Jamaica Tallawahs 157 for 5 in 20 overs (Glenn Phillips 31, Kumar Sangakkara 69, Rovman Powell 43*; Sheldon Cottrell 2 for 38) beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 116 in 17.5 overs (Evin Lewis 40; Oshane Thomas 41, Krishmar Santokie 3 for 10, Mohammad Sami 2 for 30) by 41 runs.
