Kingston | Jamaica
Jamaica Kingsmen got their first taste of victory last night in CPL T20 cricket when they defeated Trinbago Knight Riders by five wickets with eight balls to spare, at Sabina Park.
The Kingsmen without a win in their previous three outings won the toss and decided to bowl on a surface with a fair covering of grass. Openers Colin Munro and Alex Hales put on 37-runs for the first wicket, before the former held out to Odean Smith off the bowling of Andre Russell for 16.
Alex Hales tried to stamp his authority over young wrist spinner Vitel Lawes, but Lawes had the last laugh when Hales held out to be caught by Keemo Paul for 29.
The return of Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard saw the pair putting on a 67 runs third-wicket partnership, before Pooran was caught by Kirk Mckenzie for 44 runs.
Kieron Pollard attempting his fifth 6 of his innings followed eight runs later, caught off the bowling of Russell for a well played 44. Sunil Narine with a cameo of 19 runs off eight delivers, pushed the Knight Riders to their challenging total of 182-6 off their 20 overs.
Fast bowlers Hunain Shah 2-31 and Andre Russell 2-34 were the leading wicket takers for the Kingsmen.
With hundreds of anxious spectators inside the ground, Kirk Mckenzie given the opportunity to open the innings was a man on a mission. McKenzie and his opening partner Reeza Hendricks put on 93-runs for the first wicket, before the former was dismissed for 69 runs.
McKenzie playing with confidence and flair advanced down the pitch in the first over, and as straight as an arrow from a bow, he launched Akeal Hosein for six. His liking for Hosein continue and he scored 18-runs off the third.
As McKenzie grew in confidence he advance down the wicket, and like a missile on fire he launched veteran Sunil Narine for six over wide midwicket.
McKenzie scored 10-runs from ball three and four of Terrence Hinds first over to reach his 50 off 19 delivers ,and he took another 10-runs off the last two balls of the said over.
In attempting his seventh 6 of the innings, McKenzie was outfoxed and bowled by Usman Tariq for his man-of-the-match innings of 69 runs off 25 deliveries which comprised of 6×4’s and 6×6’s.
Tariq with figures of 3 wickets for 21 triggered a mini collapse reducing the Kingsmen to 126-4 off 13.3 over , before captain Rovman Powell (29 not out) and veteran Andre Russell (27) with a 48-runs partnership guided Jamaica over the victory line.
LGS
