Tallawahs slip to second straight defeat

THE JAMAICA Tallawahs batting was once again put under the microscope, following their eight-wicket loss to St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in their rain-affected match at the Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain yesterday.

Before the game, Tallawahs captain Rovman Powell lamented the poor top-order display from his side. However, the Jamaican franchise got a decent start in this encounter, putting on 49 runs in the power play.

They could not capitalise on that start and could only manage to get to 139 for five, after which the Patriots, set a revised target of 113 in 15 overs due to a rain interruption, got home for the loss of just two wickets under the Duckworth, Lewis Stern Method.

The loss sees the Tallawahs remain in the second position, by only just net run rate, on six points, with the Patriots joining them on six points, in the third position, with a negative 1.104 net run rate.

Asked to take the first strike, the Tallawahs persisted with openers Kennar Lewis and Brandon King, and the pair justified their continued selection with a positive start.

It was Lewis who would be the first wicket to fall, as he was trapped in front by spinner Rashid Kahn for 24, with 20 of those runs coming in boundaries after facing 17 balls. King helped himself to 22 off 23 balls with three fours, but he fell in the eighth over to Akila Dananjaya at 58 for two.

Skipper Powell had a rare failure, as he went via the run-out route for six, but left-hander Raymon Reifer celebrated his call up to the West Indies World Cup squad with a fighting 40 not out, to rescue the Tallawahs innings.

The Barbadian all-rounder stroked four fours and two sixes in his 26-ball knock, to help get the Tallawahs to a fighting total of 139.

Jamaican power-hitter Fabian Allen uncharacteristically utilised 24 balls for 23 runs, with three boundaries, but the day belonged to the disciplined Patriots bowling, who restricted the Tallawahs below the par score at the Oval.

There was a rain interruption at the halfway stage, and the target was revised to 113 in 15 overs. The Patriots made the most of the revised conditions, as most of their top-order batters chipped in with handy contributions. Openers Andre Fletcher (45 not out) and Evin Lewis (20) contributed 49 runs for the opening wicket which laid the foundation for the run chase.

Darren Bravo then chipped in with an unbeaten 39 from 21 balls with three fours and three sixes, to help seal the deal for the Patriots with two overs to spare.