BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – Superstar Andre Russell blasted the fastest-ever half-century in Caribbean Premier League history to propel Jamaica Tallawahs to the second highest-ever total, as they crushed hapless St Lucia Kings by the largest-ever margin in terms of runs, in the third game of the new season here yesterday.
Entering at number five in the 18th over Russell flexed his muscle in a 14-ball, unbeaten 50 which helped Tallawahs to 255 for five off their 20 overs at Warner Park.
Kennar Lewis struck 48 from 21 balls, opening partner Chadwick Walton belted 47 from 29 deliveries, while Haider Ali weighed in with 45 from 32 balls and captain Rovman Powell, 38 from 26 deliveries.
South African fast bowler Migael Pretorius then scythed through the top order to finish with four for 32 while leg-spinner Imran Khan crippled the innings at the back end with three for seven, as Kings tumbled to 135 all out in the 18th over and to a heavy 120-run defeat.
Singaporean Tim David smashed 56 from 28 deliveries at number six while Wahab Riaz managed 26 from 29 balls but neither knock rattled Tallawahs, with the early damage already done.
“I think our bowling today was a little bit disappointing. They were maybe a little bit rusty with a lot of guys coming off of a bit of a lack of cricket,” said Kings captain Faf du Plessis who suffered the indignity of a first-ball ‘duck’.
“Obviously there’s a wind factor here that we spoke about before the game but if you look at it, there were too many boundaries being scored with the wind especially in the first six overs.
“Towards the end we got it back but then Dre Russ (Russell) came in and did what he does.”
Sent in, Tallawahs got a start of 81, Lewis crunching a couple of fours and five sixes and Walton counting half-dozen fours and two sixes.
When Lewis clipped off-spinner Roston Chase (2-33) to mid-wicket to depart in the sixth over, Walton added a further 36 with Haider Ali before perishing in the tenth, paving the way for an 82-run, third wicket partnership between Haider and Powell.
Pakistani Haider hit four fours and two sixes while Powell lashed three fours and two sixes but when both fell in successive deliveries to left-arm seamer Obed McCoy (3-52) in the 18th over at 199 and Carlos Brathwaite followed in the same over, Tallawahs appeared to be stumbling at 201 for five.
However, Russell sparkled, bludgeoning three fours and half-dozen sixes, dominating a 54-run, unbroken sixth wicket stand with Pretorius – all the runs coming from the last two overs of the innings. Russell nailed four sixes in the penultimate over from seamer Wahab Riaz in an over which leaked 32 runs.
“I’m pretty satisfied. If we should look back, last year we struggled as a batting unit. For us to come this year in the first game to put up a performance like that, I’m satisfied,” Powell said.
“We know Andre is a world class player so what we’re trying to do at the Tallawahs is keep him happy, and once he’s happy, he will deliver performances like that.”
Pretorius quickly knocked over the first three – including du Plessis – to leave Kings’ run chase in tatters at 33 for three in the third over, and when Mark Deyal (5) fell to a catch at short third man in the next over, the innings was in further strife at 38 for four.
Opener Andre Fletcher (9) and Keemo Paul (0) fell in successive overs to leave Kings on 56 for six in the sixth and David’s eight fours and three sixes, in a 53-run, seventh wicket stand with Wahab, went in vain as Imran Khan snuffed out the tail.