Let’s not panic - Tallawahs captain urges calm ahead of home games at Sabina Park

Stand-in captain Rovman Powell is urging the Jamaican fans not to panic despite the Jamaica Tallawahs losing their opening two games in the 2019 edition of the Caribbean Premier League. Speaking at a press conference at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel yesterday ahead of today’s return match against the St Lucia Zouks at Sabina Park starting at 7:00 p.m, Powell says the team needs to improve its skillsets a lot quicker if they are to get positive results from their five straight home games.

The Tallawahs suffered a 22-run defeat in their first match against the Trinbago Knight Riders in Port-of-Spain last Friday and then followed that up with a gut-wrenching four-wicket loss to the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in Basseterre on Tuesday.

For Powell, the loss was inexcusable, however, the team has to remain positive with the series of home games coming up.

“The bowling is of little concern. It’s still something we have to pay attention to. They scored 240 runs in 20 overs, which is ridiculous, but going forward, we have to keep improving, keep nailing our yorkers and keep going to our skill sets a little earlier. Let’s not panic as a team and continue to do the things that we have done right, and eventually, the bowling unit will come good,” said Powell.

All six of the Tallawahs bowlers went for over 10 runs per over against the Patriots with Guyanese off-spinner Stephen Jacobs being the most expensive, with his two overs going for 30 runs.

With that said, the Tallawahs will welcome the Afghanistan spinner Zahir Khan, who is expected to join the team today.

Tallawahs coach Donavan Miller said Khan could be thrust straight into the line-up once he is passed fit. The coach also hinted that seamer Derval Green could get his first game in an expected bowling shuffle-up.