The Caribbean Premier League (CPL) commenced in an exciting fashion as the Jamaica Tallawahs successfully defended the target of 187 against St Lucia Kings in the first match of the tournament on Thursday, August 17. Skipper Brandon King, who just days earlier led the West Indies to victory in the final T20I of the series against India, was once again at the helm of matters.
Opening the batting, King scored 81 in 53 balls with nine 4s and three 6s to his name. He anchored the innings for his team and took on the bowlers when required, despite comparatively low scores by his teammates. Opener Kirk McKenzie was the next highest run-getter at 20. The Jamaican side set a target of 188, finishing their quota of 20 overs at 187. Roston Chase was the pick of the bowlers for St. Lucia, bagging three wickets.
St. Lucia Kings' Failed Chase
In response, St. Lucia Kings, under du Plessis's captaincy, had a shaky start. They lost three wickets for just 90 runs on the board. Roston Chase, coming in at number four, once again showed resilience, scoring a brisk 53 from 31 deliveries, which included four boundaries and three sixes.
However, his efforts weren't enough to take his team over the line. The Kings managed 176/8 in their 20 overs, falling short by 11 runs. Imad Wasim, the Pakistani spinner, was the star with the ball for Jamaica, claiming three crucial wickets.
Meanwhile, the losing side will once again be in action on Monday night when they take on the Barbados Royals on Friday, August 18.
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