Tallawahs target victory against Barbados Tridents in CPL T20
Published:Sunday | July 10, 2016 | 12:00 AMJermaine Lannaman
Three from four. That will be the mindset of the Jamaica Tallawahs as they head into their showdown with Barbados Tridents in the HERO Motocorp Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 cricket tournament at Kensington Oval in Barbados today.
The contest, set to begin at 7 p.m. (Jamaica time), will see the Tallawahs looking to rebound from their seven-wicket loss to leaders Guyana Amazon Warriors at Providence Stadium last Thursday.
It was the first defeat in this campaign for the Tallawahs, who had earlier got the better of hosts St Kitts and Nevis Patriots and Trinbago Knight Riders.
"It would be good if we could end with a three-from-four record on the road, and that is what we will be aiming for," said the Jamaican franchise's captain, Chris Gayle.
"It will be a tough match as all the matches in the tournament are tough, but we will just have to give it our best shot."
The Tallawahs, who were without the injured AndrÈ Russell for the Guyana match, will be hoping that other batsmen come good.
Gayle, the big left-hander, made a half-century and an unbeaten century (108) in the two victories but made zero in the third match, which saw the Tallawahs being bowled out for 100.
Sri Lankan Kumar Sangakarra and Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan are the international batsmen in the team who are yet to shine, while in reserve is Australian Alex Ross.
The batting roster is completed by Jamaicans Chadwick Walton, Ravmon Powell, and Nkrumah Bonner.
"There are areas we need to improve on and, hopefully, we will get it right," Gayle stated.
The Kieron Pollard-led Barbados Tridents, who will be playing their first home game of the season, are currently third in the standings on two points after a win and a loss.
Jamaica Tallawahs, who will head home for four games after the contest, are second on four points. Guyana Amazon Warriors lead with eight points after four straight wins.
The winner of the preliminaries will advance automatically to the final, with the next three best-placed teams down to contest an elimination play-off series.