Finally! - Tallawahs get first CPL 2019 win in five attempts

The Jamaica Tallawahs finally got the monkey off their backs and chalked up their first win of the Caribbean Premier League following a four-wicket win over the Barbados Tridents in Match 12 at Sabina Park yesterday.

The home side’s victory was led by a resolute unbeaten knock of 51 from 42 balls from stand-in captain Chadwick Walton as the Tallawahs chased down the 141 runs needed for victory in just 18.3 overs.

The day began in hot and sunny conditions, with Walton winning the toss and asking the visitors to take the first strike on a pitch that was offering assistance to both seamers and spinners.

The Tallawahs, as was expected, made a few changes to their line-up, bringing England seamer Jade Dernbach, spinner Christopher Lamont, and the recently acquired Dwayne Smith into their eleven at the expense of the injured Rovman Powell and pacers Oshane Thomas and Jerome Taylor.

That decision looked to have hit the nail on the head as the home team began brightly with the ball as the Tridents were stifled in the opening overs.

LUSTY BLOWS

Despite a couple of lusty blows from opener Alex Hales, the Englishman was undone in the second over when he held out to Ramaal Lewis at point, off George Worker for 12, with just 21 runs on the board.

Seven runs later, the same combination would bring about the second wicket as Worker sent back Johnson Charles, also for 12, as the visitors were in trouble at 28 for two after four overs.

Wicketkeeper-batsman Leniko Boucher came to the crease, and the right-hander began his innings confidently, taking Lamont for two boundaries in the fifth over to spruce up the Tridents’ score to 37.

The right-hander, who was given the licence to go at the Tallawahs bowlers, tried to push the scoring a little too quickly, and he was snapped up by Lewis for 15 at 58 for three, to the delight of the home fans.

Things would look even better for the home team as spinner Zahir Khan sent back captain Jason Holder for a duck and Lewis accounted for Jonathan Carter for six to leave the visitors on 71 for five.

In came Ashley Nurse, and the right-hander gave the visiting team some momentum as he hit a quick-fire 37 from 18 balls, with four fours and three sixes, to give the Tridents innings some verve as they finished on 140 for nine after 20 overs.

It was a much better bowling performance from the home side as Khan finished with three for 20, while there were two wickets each for Worker and Lewis.

With the Tallawahs desperate for a win, a good start with the bat was evident, and they got that in openers Chris Gayle and Glenn Phillips, who began brightly.

Phillips was in a no-nonsense mood, and he hit a four and a six in the first over to get the run chase off to a canter.

The very next over, Gayle decided to join the party and hit off-spinner Nurse for two huge sixes as the Tallawahs posted 23 runs in the first two overs.

Phillips continued his onslaught, hitting three more fours. However, he went for one too many shots and was caught by JP Duminy off Holder for 28, with the score at 48 for one.

Three balls later, Gayle would fall to the same bowler for 22 to leave the home side in a spot of bother at 50 for two.

Hayden Walsh Jr then produced a remarkable spell of bowling to remove Worker for two and Smith for a first-ball duck as the Tallawahs were sweating at 68 for four, still 78 runs adrift.

But captain magnificent, Walton, played a mature innings, scoring an unbeaten 51 from 42 balls, including a six off Carter to finish the match and see the home side across the line.

Walton got good support from Javelle Glen, who chipped in with 27 as the pair shared in a 45-run partnership.

For Man of the Match Walton, the victory was a welcome relief.

“It was a team effort, and we knew 140 was a total that could be chased down, and I believe this will give us the momentum to move forward,” he said.

The Tallawahs now go in search of a second crucial win against league leaders Guyana Amazon Warriors at the same venue on Wednesday at 7 p.m.