CPL: Shakib stars in Tallawahs’ 108-run win

The Jamaica Tallawahs pace bowlers led them closer to the top spot in the CPL table by wrapping up St Kitts and Nevis Patriots for only 75 in 15.5 overs to secure a 108-run win in Kingston.

It was Tallawahs’ fourth win in six matches, placing them only a point behind Guyana Amazon Warriors.

Patriots’ chase of 184 didn’t get the start they wanted as Andre Russell removed Lendl Simmons for a duck on the third ball of the first over, which conceded only one run.

Steyn also stifled with an equally economical first over and even though Russel was clubbed for a four and six by Faf du Plessis in the third over, but Russell had the batsman caught at cover point in the same over for 12.

Evin Lewis and Jonathan Carter also scored in double digits but fast bowler Kesrick Williams threw the chase off track by taking three wickets - of Carter, Lewis and Brad Hodge - in four balls in the ninth over, reducing Patriots to 53 for 5.

Devon Thomas also fell for a first-ball duck, like Hodge, in the next over before Dale Steyn and Shakib Al Hasan stifled and wiped off the tail, as Patriots lose their last seven wickets for only 22 runs.

While Williams finished with 3 for 19, Russell, Steyn and Shakib took two each with economy rates of less than six each.

When Tallawahs were asked to bat, they lost their openers Chadwick Walton and Chris Gayle cheaply but Kumar Sangakkara steered them towards a competitive total with a half-century, his first of the tournament in six innings.

He forged crucial partnerships with Rovman Powell - 74 in 7.1 overs - and Andre Russell - 45 in 5.2 overs. Once Sangakkara fell for 65 in the 16th over, Shakib gave them a late surge with an unbeaten 34 off 17 balls, with five fours and a six, to take them to 183 which proved to be too much for Patriots.