Red Steel continue surge with third straight win

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel posted their third win on the trot with a seven-run victory over Jamaica Tallawahs, as they continued their late surge in the Caribbean Premier League here yesterday.

Opting to bat first at Queen’s Park Oval, they managed only 145 for three off their 20 overs, with South African Jacques Kallis top-scoring with an unbeaten 61 of 51 deliveries and captain Dwayne Bravo getting 49 not out off 30 balls.

Jacques Kallis
Jacques Kallis

They then successfully defended their total, restricting Tallawahs to 138 for nine, thanks mainly to leg-spinner Samuel Badree’s three for 35 and two wickets apiece from medium pacer Dwayne Bravo (2-18) and left-arm spinner Sulieman Benn (2-28)

Andre Russell gave Tallawahs hope with an aggressive 36 from 22 balls while opener Chris Gayle hit 27 from 13 deliveries but no other batsman passed 12.

In the space of days, Red Steel have now jumped from bottom of the standings to second on 11 points, with a single game left in the tournament against Guyana Amazon Warriors on Tuesday here.

Barbados Tridents are assured of a spot in the final four with 12 points from their full complement of games but could be replaced at the top if Red Steel win their next game.

Red Steel found it difficult to get going and were labouring at 76 for three at the end of the 13th over.

Kallis added 34 off 27 deliveries for the first wicket with William Perkins (5) and a further 32 off 34 balls for the second wicket with Kamran Akmal who made 14.

 Dwayne Bravo
Dwayne Bravo

When Darren Bravo (5) got a leading edge off seamer Russell to be taken at deep mid-off by Rusty Theron, Red Steel had lost their third wicket and were wandering.

However, Dwayne Bravo joined Kallis to rally the innings in a 69-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand. While Bravo hit two fours and three sixes, Kallis struck five fours and two maximums, as 53 runs came from the last five overs.

In reply, Gayle gave Jamaica a rousing start, smashing three sixes and two fours off the first over bowled by Badree which leaked 26 runs.

However, the big-hitting left-hander holed out to long-off off Dwayne Bravo in the third over with the score on 32, sparking a slide which saw six wickets tumble for 55 runs, as Badree and Benn ripped through the middle order.

Russell arrived to blast two fours and three sixes, adding a valuable 33 for the eighth wicket with Krishmar Santokie (10), to take Jamaica closer to their target.

The visitors needed 21 from the last two overs but once Russell slapped Dwayne Bravo into the lap of deep point off the third ball of the penultimate over, their threat diminished.