PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC- Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel have sailed into the finals of the Caribbean Premier League for the first time on the waves of an explosive 49 by Kamran Akmal and an outstanding bowling performance here today.
Akmal, who was promoted in the batting order, swung the game decisively into Red Steel’s favour after skipper Dwayne Bravo, Samuel Badree and Sulieman Benn shared six wickets to limit Warriors to 108 for nine in 20 0vers.
Red Steel outplayed the Warriors in a low scoring encounter at the Queen’s Park oval cancelling out a brilliant and responsible top score of 65 from Lendl Simmons after Warriors won the toss and opted to bat.
Steel had a slight scare on the chase losing Cameron Delport and Jacques Kallis and slumping to 48 for two before a brief cameo of 22 from Darren Bravo who was caught at long-on.
But it was Akmal who brutalized a game changing first over from David Wiese, the most expensive of the match which leaked 21 runs including five consecutive fours.
In all, Akmal struck seven fours and a six before he was beaten and bowled by Sunil Narine, a single short of a well-deserved fifty.
Simmons was the lone act of defiance for the Warriors as Bravo, Badree and Benn picked their way through the Warriors batting order.
He faced 51 balls hitting eight fours and as wickets tumbled around him no one hung around to build any significant partnership.
Simmons’ occupation of the crease, in which he plundered 12 from the first over including boundaries off the first two balls, was the highlight of the Warriors innings and the Trinidadian in the process became the all-time leading run-scorer in CPL history.
Chris Barnwell was run out for the second highest score of 12 but no other batsman passed six runs as the warrior’s innings unraveled in spectacular fashion.
Badree picked up his two wickets in three balls, Brad Hodge caught by Darren Bravo at deep backward of square and Narine bowled as he attempted a sweep shot.
Bravo bowled a tight spell at the death overs to finish with two for 19 from three overs including a maiden while Benn’s two wickets came at the cost of 24 runs.
Simmons was eventually run out in the final over going for a quick single as the Warriors handed the homeside an easy target to chase.
Red Steel will face current holder Barbados Tridents in the finals of the CPL at the Queen’s Park over on Sunday.
