Gayle leads Jamaica Tallawahs to first Limacol CPL title

Chris Gayle

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Another exhibition of power hitting by captain Chris Gayle and the consistent Andre Russell guided the Jamaica Tallawahs to a commanding seven wicket win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors that gave them the first hold of the Limacol Caribbean Premier League last night.

Chris Gayle
Chris Gayle

The pair smashed an unbeaten 62 from 34 balls as the Tallawahs rattled up 129 for three in 17.3 overs in reply to the warriors’ 128 for five off 20 overs. Gayle finished unbeaten on 47 off 48 balls with six boundaries, while the belligerent Russell stroked 33 off 18 balls including five fours and one six.

Andre Russell
Andre Russell

Earlier Chadwick Walton hit a six and one boundary in nine balls before going leg before wicket to Tillakaratne Dilshan for 13 and Kumar Sangakkara lofted Christopher Barnwell for James Franklin to run in and take a catch low down when the Sri Lankan was on 13.

The only other Tallawah wicket to fall was that of Jermaine Blackwood for three. He was deceived by a slower delivery from Lasith Malinga whom he offered a tame return catch.

Sent in to bat, the Guyana Amazon Warriors were choked in the front end of their innings  languishing  on 46 for two after 10 overs. They lost William Perkins caught  at mid off by Danza Hyatt from a David Bernard Jnr.delivery for 14 and the prize wicket of Tillakaratne Dilshan who played on to a sharp in swinger from Bernard jnr without scoring.

Lendl Simmons who started uncharacteristically slow  topscored with 40 off 44 balls with three fours and two sixes before holding out to Kumar Sangakkara  trying to  launch Nikita Miller over long off.  Simmons featured in a 50 run partnership with Denesh Ramdin who contributed 29 from 34 balls including two fours and one six.

The Jamaica Tallawahs rose to the occasion last night producing an inspired performance to totally outplay the Amazon Warriors and win the inaugural Limacol Premier League at the Queen’s Park Oval. (Photo CPL website)
The Jamaica Tallawahs rose to the occasion last night producing an inspired performance to totally outplay the Amazon Warriors and win the inaugural Limacol Premier League at the Queen’s Park Oval. (Photo CPL website)

Scoreboard
Guyana Amazon Warriors:   128-5 (20 overs)
Lendl Simmons c Kumar Sangakkara b Nikita Miller            40
William Perkins   c Danza Hyatt   b David Bernard Jnr.       14
Tillakaratne Dilshan   b David Bernard Jnr.                             0
+ Denesh Ramdin b Chris Gayle                                             29
Sunil Narine   run out (Walton/+Baugh Jnr.)                            9
James Franklin   not out                                                           17
Christopher Barnwell    not out                                                    9
Extras:      b1 lb7 w2                                                                10
Total     for 5 wkts    (20 overs)                                                128
Did not bat: * Ramnaresh Sarwan, Veerasammy Permaul, Krishmar Santokie, and Lasith Malinga.
Fall of wickets: 1-20, 2-27, 3-79, 4-94, 5-98.
Bowling: David Bernard Jnr. 4-0-18-2, Vernon Philander 3-0-8-0, Nikita Miller 4-0-27-1, Muttiah Muralitharan 4-0-13-0, Chris Gayle 4-0-42-1, Andre Russell 1-0-12-0.

Jamaica Tallawahs:  129-3 (17.3 overs)
Chadwick Walton        lbw Tillakaratne Dilshan                          13
* Chris Gayle    not out                                                           47
Kumar Sangakkara c James Franklin
b Christopher Barnwell                                                          13
Jermaine Blackwood c and b Latish Malinga                            3
Andre Russell not out                                                               33
Extras:  lb3, w17                                                                      20
Total:  For 3 wkts    (17.3 overs)                                         129
Did not bat: Danza Hyatt, +Carlton Baugh Jnr., David Bernard Jnr., Vernon Philander, Nikita Miller, Muttiah Muralitharan.
Fall of wickets:  1-26, 2-61, 3-67,
Bowling: Krishmar Santokie 4-0-31-0 (7w), Lasith Malinga 3.3-0-28-1 (2w), Tillakaratne Dilshan 4-0-32-1 (1w), Sunil Narine 4-0-9-0, Christopher Barnwell 2-0-26-1 (1w).
Toss: Jamaica Tallawahs who fielded.
Result: Jamaica Tallawahs won by 7 wickets to win the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League:
Man of the match: Chris Gayle (Jamaica Tallawahs)
Player of the series: Krishmar Santokie (Guyana Amazon Warriors)Scoreboard

The Amazon Warriors innings got a much needed boost as James Franklin and Christopher Barnwell realized 20 runs  in the final over bowled by Chris Gayle. Franklin was undefeated  on 17. He faced nine balls and struck two sixes in the final over. David Bernard Jnr., was the most successful bowler for the Tallawahs with two for 18 off four overs.