CPL 2017, Match 20, SNP vs JT, Review: Chris Gayle and Lewis storm St.Kitts into the knockouts

Match 20 of the Caribbean Premier League 2017 finally broke the jinx of low scoring matches and gave some breathing space to the batsmen. St.Kitts Nevis and Patriots secured their 5th win of the season beating Jamaica Tallawahs by 37 runs and stormed their way into the playoffs.

Finally, rain relented in St. Kitts and the fans witnessed a full game. Kumar Sangakkara, Tallawahs skipper, won the toss and invited the home side to bat first. It was an important match for the visitors and the unavailability of Imad Wasim forced them to change their combination. Trevon Griffith and Odean Smith were included in the side and for St. Kitts Ben Hilfenhaus came in at the expense of Fabien Allen.

Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis strode out to open the innings and straight away started to bludgeon the ball. While Lewis was the aggressor, Gayle sat back and turned the strike over to his partner. Lewis soon reached his half century and was dismissed in the 13th over by Smith. He scored a belligerent 69 off just 39 balls and had laid a platform for the batsmen to come.

Meanwhile, Gayle continued to play cautiously and let others tonk the ball freely. The plan worked and the captain broke shackles only in the 18th over and powered his team past 200. Nabi too played a useful hand of 29 from 12. Patriots posted a whopping 208/3 in their 20 overs as their skipper stayed unbeaten on 71 off 55 deliveries. Tallawahs’ bowlers were all at sea today and were stunned as Lewis storm had hit them. Krishmar Santokie was the only bowler who bowled his variations nicely and was only taken for 23 runs. All his teammates looted the runs at more than 10 an over with Sami being the most expensive (0/51 in 4 overs).

The chase

In pursuit of 209, Tallawahs openers tried to make a good fist of the chase and started off in spanking fashion. Griffith and Phillips provided a quick fire start to their team and added 64 in less 9 overs. But once the opening stand was broken, the visitors could not up the ante and the required rate kept soaring. Sangakkara, Simmons and Jonathan Foo could not make any impact as the home team spun a web with Nabi and Shamsi in the middle overs.

The late surge came from Rovman Powell who added quick 31 runs from 19 cherries with 3 fours and 2 huge sixes but it was too late for them. The collapse of the middle order had cost them the match already. Shamsi was the pick of the bowlers with the figures of 3/35. He scalped wickets of Phillips, Simmons and Foo to keep the oppositions run scoring in check. He was well supported by other bowlers who picked a wicket each apart from Hilfenhaus. Tallawahs fell 37 short and could only muster 171/7 in their quota of overs.

With the virtue of this victory, St. Kitts have consolidated their second position and are closing in on the Trinbago Knight Riders who are at the top of the tree. This was only the second loss for Jamaica and they need not worry much as they look safe at the third spot. Though, they must be rueing the chance of going past the home side and a win here could have secured their place in the playoffs.

Brief Scores:

St.Kitts Nevis and Patriots 208/3 in 20 overs (E Lewis 69 (39b, 5×4, 6×6); C Gayle 71* (55b, 4×4, 4×6); Krishmar Santokie 1/23)

Jamaica Tallawahs 171/7 in 20 overs (T Griffith 42 (32b, 4×4, 2×6); R Powell 31 (19b, 3×4, 2×6); Tabraiz Shamsi 3/35)

St.Kitts Nevis and Patriots won by 37 runs

Man of the Match: Evin Lewis