Fri | Apr 26, 2024

Tallawahs jostle for semi-final position in CPL

Published:Saturday | September 5, 2020 | 12:20 AMLennox Aldred/Gleaner Writer
LEFT: Fidel Edwards (right) of Jamaica Tallawahs appeals for leg before wicket against Johnson Charles (left) of Barbados Tridents during the Hero Caribbean Premier League match 14 between Barbados Tridents and Jamaica Tallawahs at Queen’s Park Oval on A
Randy Brooks - CPL T20
LEFT: Fidel Edwards (right) of Jamaica Tallawahs appeals for leg before wicket against Johnson Charles (left) of Barbados Tridents during the Hero Caribbean Premier League match 14 between Barbados Tridents and Jamaica Tallawahs at Queen’s Park Oval on August 26 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.

The cricket gods have smiled on the Jamaica Tallawahs this season, as the franchise will play in the final four of the competition, even if they should lose their remaining two matches.

Following the elimination of defending champions the Barbados Tridents on Thursday, the Tallawahs will finish no worse than fourth place when they wrap up their 10-game fixture on Sunday.

The Jamaican franchise will next square off with the eliminated Barbados Tridents side today at 1:15 p.m. Jamaica time, after which they will wrap up their preliminary round fixtures on Sunday against the St Lucia Zouks.

The remaining games could impact the semi-final matchups. The Tallawahs who are on seven points will be gunning for maximum points in their remaining games, as they push to finish in third place and avoid facing the high-riding leaders Trinbago Knight Riders in the semi-finals.

For that to happen, the Tallawahs will be hoping that current third-place team, the St Lucia Zouks, lose today against the Trinbago Knight Riders and then again on Sunday when they both clash in the final fixture of the preliminary round. The Zouks are now on 10 points.

If those results were to materialise, the third-place Tallawahs would play the second-place Guyana Amazon Warriors and fourth-place Zouks would face leaders Trinbago Knight Riders in the final four. The winners of those contests would then go on to the final which is slated for September 10.

With the confidence of knowing that they have qualified, the Tallawahs will be looking to continue their momentum they have started to gain with their batting unit, having registered par scores in their last two fixtures.

Head coach Floyd Reifer says there is an obvious rejuvenated mood and energy in the camp, and it is a welcome sign heading into the business end of the tournament.

“Everyone is in good spirits and team unity and camaraderie is very good. Everyone is positive and in a good frame of mind and we are just looking forward to the next two games. We want to get that momentum going into the next two games and the semi-finals and the final,” said Reifer.

In their last rain-affected abandoned outing against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, the Tallawahs dropped opening batsman Chadwick Walton who has been woefully out of form and replaced him with left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul.

See related story on B4.