Chris Gayle’s second Hero CPL ton helped set up an emphatic win for the Jamaican Tallawahs who disposed of the Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel by 50-runs in match 18 played at Sabina Park, Kingston, Jamaica last night.
The destructive opener smoked nine monster sixes and six fours in his 57-ball 105, taking the Tallawahs to a daunting 180-6 in their 20 overs despite some good slow-bowling by Sulieman Benn (2-19), Samuel Badree (1-16), and Johan Botha (1-32).
South African legend Jacques Kallis led the charge with 46 from 36 balls but found little support from the big names in Cameron Delport (00), Darren Bravo (00), skipper Dwayne Bravo (00) and wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal (02) as the Red Steel were restricted to 130-6 in 20 overs.
The tournament’s leading wicket-taker Krishmar Santokie ended with 3-27 from his four overs while New Zealand off-spinner Daniel Vettori (2-22), Jerome Taylor (2-21) and a wicket each from Rusty Theron and Andre Russell sealed off the Steel.
Kallis began his innings in aggressive fashion and seemed set for a big score despite the top-order failing to fire. Youngster Mark Deyal fought for his 23 while some late hitting by Badree who ended on 29 not out off of 16 balls with two fours and two sixes provided entertainment for the crowd as the Red Steel’s innings came to an end.
Earlier, Gayle displayed his wide range of power hitting shots as he cruised to his century with little fight from the opposition. No bowler was spared as the burly left-hander smashed them into the stands and even the parking lot during his onslaught at his Kingston home ground as the Tallawahs looked on track for a 200-plus score.
Despite his carnage, he registered his century with a single before his opposite number Bravo had him out caught and bowled. Late support from Jermain Blackwood who scored a 28-ball 38 helped the Tallawahs to a still daunting total after top guns, Mahela Jayawardene (01), Chadwick Walton (13), Chris Lynn (08), Russell (03) and Narsingh Deonarine (01) all failed.
Gayle won the MVP award.
Scoreboard
Jamaica Tallawahs innings
C Gayle* c & b DJ Bravo 105
C Walton† lbw b Badree 13
C Lynn c †Kamran Akmal b Benn 8
M Jayawardene c †Kamran Akmal b Benn 1
N Deonarine c Kallis b Botha 1
J Blackwood c Delport b Cooper 38
A Russell not out 3
J Theron not out 6
Extras (b 1, w 4) 5
Total (6 wickets; 20 overs) 180
Did not bat: DL Vettori, JE Taylor, K Santokie
Fall of wickets 1-70 (Walton), 2-91 (Lynn), 3-93 (Jayawardene), 4-102 (Deonarine), 5-170 (Gayle), 6-173 (Blackwood)
Bowling: Kalis 1-0-6-0,Botha 3-0-32-1,Searles 3-0-32-0,DJ Bravo 4-0-47-1,Badree 2-0-16-1,Cooper 4-0-27-1, Benn 3-0-19-2.
Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel innings
J Kallis c Russell b Theron 46
C Delport c Santokie b Vettori 0
D Bravo c †Walton b Santokie 0
Kamran Akmal† lbw b Taylor 2
DJ Bravo* c Gayle b Russell 0
M Deyal c Gayle b Vettori 23
J Botha c Russell b Santokie 13
J Scantlebury-Searles c Theron b Taylor 2
K Cooper b Santokie 3
S Badree not out 29
S Benn not out 8
Extras (w 4) 4
Did not bat: DL Vettori, JE Taylor, K Santokie
Fall of wickets 1-70 (Walton), 2-91 (Lynn), 3-93 (Jayawardene), 4-102 (Deonarine), 5-170 (Gayle), 6-173 (Blackwood)
Bowling:Santokie 4-0-27-3, Vettori 4-0-22-2, Taylor 3-0-21-2, Russell 4-0-19-1, Theron 4-0-26-1, Gayle 1-0-15-0.
Result: Tallawahs won by 50 runs
Points:Tallawahs 2, Red Steel 0.
Man-of-the-match:Chris Gayle
Toss: Red Steel
Umpires:J Ward, J Wilson-tv P Gustard.
