Tallawahs back to losing ways against Amazon Warriors

The Jamaica Tallawahs could not capitalize on the momentum gained from their win against the Barbados Tridents, as they went down by 81 runs to the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Sabina Park in match 15 of the Caribbean Premier League.

The loss condemned the Tallawahs to their fifth defeat and bottom of the standings on two points while the win extended the Amazon Warriors unbeaten run in the tournament to five games and still top of the table with 10 points.

After being asked to take the first strike, the Amazon Warriors posted a respectable 218 for six in 20 overs with captain Shoaib Malik leading the way with an unbeaten 67 from 37 balls which included six fours and three sixes.

Jamaican opener Brandon King weighed in with a belligerent 59 from 37 balls with four fours and six sixes.

King and Shimron Hetmyer, who made a blistering 44 from 25 balls, shared in a 69 run second-wicket stand to set up the Guyana innings which was well finished off by skipper Malik.

Seamers Jade Dernbach and the returning Andre Russell took two wickets each while there was a wicket each for Dwayne Smith and Ramaal Lewis.

Needing to score at over 10 runs per over, the Tallawahs got off to the worst possible start, losing the ‘Universe Boss’ Chris Gayle for seven, with just 12 runs on the board.

As was expected, the Amazon Warriors spinners crippled the Tallawahs momentum by picking up wickets at the top, as the home side were reeling at one stage at 51 for 4 after eight overs.

However, a quickfire 40 from 19 balls from Andre Russell gave the Tallawahs innings some momentum, but when he fell to seamer Odean Smith, things went downhill once again for the host.

Despite a fighting 40 from 32 from opener Glen Phillips, who batted through to the 14th over, the writing was on the wall, as Keemo Paul came in a cleaned up the lower order to dismiss the Tallawahs for 137 in 17.3 overs.

Paul finished with three for 34 from three overs while there were two wickets each for spinners Imran Tahir and Qais Ahmad.

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