Defending champions, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots suffered a loss in their opening match of the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign as they lost to a new-look Jamaica Tallawahs. The Tallawahs scored 183 for two in 20 overs powered by Man-of-the-Match Brandon King (89) and Kennar Lewis (47), who put on 116 runs for the opening wicket. They bowled out Patriots for 136 with only Sherfane Rutherford (33) and Fletcher putting up a resistance. The Tallawahs won by 47 runs to get off to a great start in the month-long competition.
The PatriotsтАЩ decision to bowl first after winning the toss did not work out as a sparkling 89 off 57 balls from King and support from Lewis gave them a huge advantage while defending their total of 183 for two.
For Patriots Duan Jansen bowled a fine opening spell of three overs, but once King got his eye in there was stopping. He took 14 and 19 runs respectively off Akila Dananjaya and Jon Russ Jaggesar to ensure the Tallawahs ended the Power Play on 48/0.
Though King was in full flow, his partner Lewis was lucky as he twice escaped being run out but he hung and there was a century partnership. He was also dropped twice.
Lewis finally departed for 48 but then came Tallawahs captain, Rovman Powell, and he added a quickfire 30 not out from 15 balls at the finish for a fine total.
The Patriots were never really in the game in their reply. Evin Lewis, Dewald Brevis and Darren Bravo all fell inside the first half of the innings which left the Patriots needing 12.5 runs per over. That was too much to get and despite some fireworks from Sherfane Rutherford it was Nicholson Gordon who stole the show with the ball taking three for 24 to ensure a comfortable victory for the Tallawahs.
Brief scores: Jamaica Tallawahs: 183 for 2 in 20 overs: (Brandon King 89, Kennar Lewis 48, Rovman Powell 30 not out) beat St Kitts & Nevis Patriots: 138 all out in 18 overs (Sherfane Rutherford 33, Andre Fletcher 31, Nicholson Gordon 3/32, Imad Wasim 2/20, Migeael Pretorius 2/35) by 47 runs.
Upcoming Matches:
Friday, September 2:
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots v Barbados Royals (4.30 am IST);
Lucia Kings v Trinbago Knight Riders (7.30 am IST)
