King hails team support after Tallawahs win

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

New Jamaica Tallawahs captain Brandon King has praised his players for their support after overseeing an 11-run victory over St Lucia Kings in the opening game of the 2023 Caribbean Premier League here Wednesday night.

Tallawahs won the showpiece last year under the leadership of Rovman Powell, but King was handed the reins of the side after the West Indies Twenty20 skipper moved on to Barbados Royals for the new campaign.

King top-scored with 81 and then made inspired changes in the field to stall Kings’ run chase at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.

“This is a new challenge for me,” King said. “We have a lot of experienced bowlers in our line-up so it makes my job much easier. It’s then really about managing and giving them information to go out there and execute.”

After rebuilding the Tallawahs innings in a 53-ball knock, which included nine fours and three sixes, King then marshalled his bowlers well to ensure his side successfully defended their 187.

He handed Imad Wasim the new ball and watched as the Pakistan left-arm spinner snared three for 27, and also used Salman Irshad (2-39) wisely, the Pakistani speedster sending down the last over and grabbing two wickets with Kings requiring 19 runs for victory.

“The guys that we have bowling for us are very experienced, so they feed me information about their thinking – what lengths are good on the pitch – and then I make my decisions along with their information,” King explained.

“I think our spinners bowled very well. It was that kind of total that if you start well with the ball then [the required run rate] keeps going up, so it’s going to be difficult for the batting team.

“I wouldn’t say [I was] worried. It did come down too close for my liking, but I back our bowlers – Salman playing his first game, and I think he was incredible.

“He executed his yorkers very well. He was very clear in his mind what he was going to bowl, and I’m happy with that.”

King’s 50 came on the heels of an unbeaten 85 last Sunday, which helped West Indies clinch a 3-2 series win over India in Florida, and the 28-year-old said he was “feeling good at the crease at the moment”.

“They say you’re only as good as your last performance, so it’s good to have some consistency. I’m feeling good at the crease at the moment, and I’m hoping for more runs,” King said.