Russell rules as Knight Riders fall to Tallawahs

Photo: Andre Russell had a man of the match performance as the Jamaica Tallawahs made it three straight home wins at Sabina Park in the Hero CPL at Sabina Park on Monday night. Ruseell scored 44 runs to help guide the Tallawahs to 158/7 before returning to claim four wickets as the Trinbago Knight Riders were restricted to 139/8 from their 20 overs.

A man of the match performance from all rounder Andre Russell who scored 44 runs and took four wickets, helped the Jamaica Tallawahs defeat the Trinbago Knight Riders by 19 runs in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at Sabina Park on Monday night. The Jamaican franchise made it three straight wins at home in front of a vibrant home crowd.

The Knight Riders won the toss and chose to field and were able restrict the Tallawahs for a modest 158/7. But the Tallawahs then restricted the tournament favourites to a mere 139/9. The wins puts the Tallawahs at the top of the table on 11 points, one point ahead of Guyana Amazon warriors.

Kevon Cooper who took three wickets, struck early for the Knight Riders. He handed them the perfect start when he had Chris Gayle caught by Denesh Ramdin behind the stumps for a duck in the second over of the game to leave the score at 5/1. Ronsford Beaton should have had the wicket of Chadwick Walton with the third ball of his second over, but Sunil Narine misjudged the high ball and it went over his head and ran into boundary.

The Tallawahs continued their trend of losing early wickets when the unlucky Chadwick Walton was run out for 16 by Sulieman Benn in the fourth over with the Tallawahs struggling at 19/2.

Kumar Sangakkara and Rovman Powell rescued the Tallwahs for a second game in a row, putting on 54 runs off 37 balls and took the Tallawahs score to 73/2 at the half way stage. Both batsmen played well as they were very watchful against the disciplined Trinbago bowlers.

Cooper broke the partnership in his third over and the game’s 13th, removing the both Sangakkara (23 off 21 balls) and Powell (44 off 34 balls) after the pair had put on 72 runs off 50 balls for the third wicket. Sangakkara went first, holding out to William Perkins at deep backward square and Powell followed two balls later, miscuing a pull shot to mid wicket to give Dwayne Bravo a comfortable catch, leaving the Tallawahs at 91/4.

Sunil Narine sent back Shakib Al Hasan with the last ball of his spell, Al Hasan trying to cut a ball that was too near to him and it took the edge of his bat to Brendon McCullum at first slip.

With the Tallawahs score at 113/5 Andre Russell joined the party and his quick fire 44 off 24 ball brought the Tallawahs to a respectable total of 158/7. Flashing a pink bat under the lights, Russell failed to get the ball off the square, but a change of bat brought a change of fortune, as he helped push the total above the psychological 150 mark.

The Knight Riders also got off to a poor start when Imad Wasim sent back the inform Brendon McCullum for just six runs, Kumar Sangakkara taking the bails off before McCullum could get back in his crease after charging down the wicket, with the total at 9/1. Six balls later Dale Steyn had Colin Munro caught at mid wicket after the batsman scooped the ball into the hands of Shakib Al Hasan with the Trinbago Knight Riders at 16/2.

William Perkin did not hang around long as he was sent back by Andre Russell, after holding out to Chadwick Walton at deep mid wicket with the Knights at 42/3. Umar Akmal was the next to march back to the Pavilion, cutting a delivery bowled by Shaik Al Hasan straight in to the hands of Imad Wasim at point to leave the Knight Riders in trouble at 60/4 and desperately in need of a partnership.

The dangerous Hashim Amla, was at the crease and was looking to take the game in his hands but Kesrick Williams ensured that did not happen, as Amla played one of his deliveries in the hands of Timroy Allen at deep mid wicket with the Knight Riders at 104/5.

Captain Dwayne Bravo came and joined Denesh Ramdin and tried to get his team back into the game with the asking rate over 10 runs per over. But when Dale Steyn removed Bravo for just 13, holding out to Russell to leave the Knight Riders at 119/6, the writing was pretty much on the wall.

Denesh Ramdin was looking good and tried desperately to take the Knight Riders over the line, but Russell had other plans, removing Kevon Cooper and Sunil Narine with consecutive deliveries. Cooper was caught brilliantly by veteran Sangakkara, diving to his right to take a splendid one handed catch, then Narine offered Timroy Allen an easy catch to leave the Knight Riders with no hope at 120/8.

Ramdin (31 off 23 balls) was sent back by Andre Russell, holding out to Chadwick Walton to leave the Knight Riders down on their knees.

The Tallawahs welcome Barbados Tridents on Wednesday for their final home game, as they go for a fourth consecutive and sixth overall win for the season.