Photo: Jamaica Tallawahs captain Chris Gayle struck 54 runs from just 27 balls as the Tallawahs defeated the Guyana Amazon Warriors by 9 wickets to win the HERO CPL T-20 title.
The Jamaica Tallawahs claimed their second hold on the HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T-20 title when they thrashed the luckless Guyana Amazon Warriors by nine wickets at Warner Park in St. Kitts on Sunday. After finishing the regular season at the top of the table, the Warriors left their worst batting performance of the season for last, tumbling to 93 all out before the Tallawahs romped home at 95 for 1.
The Tallawahs have been the finals twice and won it twice, both against the Warriors, who have been there three times and lost all three.
The Warriors entered last night’s final full of confidence having beaten the Tallawahs twice this season. In the first win, they held the big hitting Chris Gayle and company to just 100 runs, before getting the better of the Jamaican team in the playoffs once again.
A good start at the top of the order is critical in T-20 cricket and the Warriors failed to get that good start when it mattered most. Nic Maddinson and Chris Lynn, who played for the Tallawahs last season, went back cheaply and from there, it never got better for the Guyanese team.
Sohail Tanvir got almost half of his team’s total, hitting 42 of 37 deliveries, but the support was lacking as there was no significant partnership in the middle overs. The Tallawahs kept getting wickets at vital moments and Kesrick Williams entertained the crowd with both his wickets and his dance celebrations.
When the Warriors innings folded at the first ball of the 17th over, the stage was set for the Tallawahs to claim their second title.
The Tallwahs did not make the same mistake that the Warriors did. Their opening pair of captain Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton got stuck in quite quickly and took the game away from the Warriors bowlers.
Determined to end the game quickly, it took the powerful Gayle just 22 deliveries to bring up his half century and though he fell for 54 from 27 balls, the damage was already done by the time Gayle headed back for the pavilion.
Chadwick Walton (25) and Kumar Sangakkara then steered the Jamaicans to their second finals win without much fuss and with just over seven overs to spare. It was as easy a win as could have been hoped for by team to have first hoisted the CPL trophy.
Andre Russell, who hit his first ever T-20 century on Friday night to guide the Tallawahs into the final, was named player of the tournament.
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