Powell growing from ‘strength to strength’ on account of CPL

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC- Debutant Rovman Powell says the current HERO Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is providing him with enough opportunities to improve his game after his batting performance which helped lift Jamaica Tallawahs to the top of the standings.

Powell, 22, a relative unknown before the CPL draft earlier this year, has shown glimpses of potential with scores of 38, 35 and 44 while batting in the number four position for the former champions.

Chris Gayle and Kumar Sangakkara have singled out Rovman Powell, above as one for the future.
Chris Gayle and Kumar Sangakkara have singled out Rovman Powell, above as one for the future.

His 35 from 24 balls helped Tallawahs defeat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by 108 on the weekend while on Monday night, his 44 from 34 balls also set the mood for his team’s 19 run win over Trinbago Knight Riders.

Tallawahs are now at the top of the standings on 11 points, one above Guyana Amazon Warriors.

“I have been given a few opportunities, which I have tried to take with both hands,” said Powell.

“I am yet to get a telling innings to let people know who is Rovman Powell is, but I think it’s a decent start. It’s just for me now to grow from strength to strength.”

Powell, a former Jamaican Under-19 player, has led the University of the West Indies to the final and semi-final of the national one-day and two-day competitions.

He has also had scores of 71 and 63 in the Nagico Super50 competition for the Combined Campuses and Colleges in two seasons.

Both Chris Gayle and Sri Lankan batting great Kumar Sangakkara have singled him out as a player for the future.

“I have trained hard, have done the hard work, and things are falling into place. So for that I am grateful,” said Powell, currently a final-year student at UWI where he majors in Geography.

“Chris Gayle and Andre Russell have also sat down with me and have had some personal chats and have shown me the ropes of how to perform at this level, while Kumar Sangakarra, as a legend of our game, he is more than just a player.”