CPL 2017, Match 3, BT v JT, Review: Akeal's all-round show helps Barbados Tridents register first win

After a low scoring affair in match 2 of the CPL 2017, the action stayed in Florida for the third game of the season. Barbados Tridents locked horns with the Jamaica Tallawahs in the second game of the day. The two captains – Kieron Pollard of the Barbados Tridents and Kumar Sangakkara of the Jamaica Tallawahs – walked to the center for the toss. Pollard won the toss and surprisingly elected to bat first.

The Tridents fielded Shoaib Malik, Kane Williamson, Wahab Riaz, and Wayne Parnell as their overseas attractions. The Tallawahs had the services of Shakib Al Hasan, Imad Wasim, and Mohammad Sami in addition to skipper Sangakkara in their overseas list for the game.

Kane Williamson opened the innings with Dwayne Smith for the Barbados Tridents. Both batsmen found it tough to get the run flow going in the powerplay. With just 32 runs in the powerplay, things were not very ideal for them. Williamson departed on the last ball of the powerplay after being dismissed by Kesrick Williams on 13 (20). Shoaib Malik came in at number and hit a few brisk shots to break the shackles.

Malik lost the support of Smith soon in the 9th over. Shakib Al Hasan trapped Smith lbw on 28 (24). Nicholas Pooran (12) hit two fours during his stay at the crease before getting out on a Krishmar Santokie delivery. Skipper Kieron Pollard (1) and Christopher Barnwell (1) were cleaned up for identical scores by Imad Wasim in the 14th over in the space of 5 deliveries.

Late flourish from Parnell, Akeal

The Barbados Tridents were reeling at 78/5 by the end of the 14th over. Malik, who had looked good for his 27-ball 33 at the other end, also perished to become Williams’ second scalp of the day. Some later flourish from Wayne Parnell and Akeal Hossein ensured that the Tridents posted 142/7 in their 20 overs. Parnell hit 25 off 19 balls with 3 fours to his name. Hossein struck a quick 22 off mere 10 deliveries with a four and a six. For the Tallawahs, Imad, Santokie, and Kesrick bagged 2 wickets each.

And the run chase

The Jamaica Tallawahs had a horror start with their skipper and opener Kumar Sangakkara being dismissed for a golden duck by Ravi Rampaul in the secondd over. The other opener, Lendl Simmons, was then joined by Andre McCarthy. While Simmons found life easy at the crease, McCarthy largely struggled to get things going. However, both batsmen managed to parade along to stitch a handy 62 run stand off 65 deliveries for the second wicket.

The partnership was broken by Imran Khan in the 12th over when he dismissed McCarthy for 22 (30). Shakib Al Hasan (1) did not trouble the scorers much as Akeal Hossain shattered his woodwork in the very next over. Meanwhile, Lendl Simmons continued with his hitting form to register a fifty. He could not add much to his score after reaching the landmark though. He was unfortunately run out on 53 in the 14th over.

The flurry of wickets shook the Tallawahs batting. No other batsman could get their feet moving at the crease and the innings never found stability that they needed. Jamaica Tallawahs eventually finished with 130/6 in their 20 overs and fell short by 12 runs in the run chase. Akeal Hossein was the pick of the bowlers for the Barbados Tridents with 2/24 to his name.

Brief Scores:

Barbados Tridents 142/7 in 20 overs (Malik 33, Smith 28, Imad 2/16, Santokie 2/24, Kesrick 2/24)

Jamaica Tallawahs 130/6 in 20 overs (Simmons 53, McCarthy 22, Akeal 2/24, Imran 1/9)