PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – Title-holders St Kitts and Nevis Patriots won an important second game to climb into third in the standings, while inflicting Jamaica Tallawahs with their third defeat, in a rain-hit contest here yesterday.
In pursuit of a modest 140 at Queen’s Park Oval, Patriots had reached 113 for two in reply in the 13th over when rain ended the game prematurely with victory already in sight, giving them an eight-wicket win under Duckworth-Lewis-Stern.
In-form Andre Fletcher had put them ahead with an unbeaten 45 from 38 balls, left-hander Darren Bravo supporting him with 39 from 21 deliveries, to condemn the Tallawahs to defeat.
However, Tallawahs remained second – like Patriots on six points – but ahead of them on net run rate, with unbeaten Barbados Royals at the top on a perfect 12.
Sent in, Tallawahs were carried to 139 for five off their 20 overs by left-hander Raymon Reifer, who celebrated his call-up to the West Indies Twenty20 World Cup squad with an unbeaten 40 from 26 deliveries at number five. Kennar Lewis (24) and Brandon King (22) put on 49 off 34 balls for the first wicket and when four wickets tumbled for 37 runs, Reifer hauled the innings around by anchoring a crucial 39-run, fifth-wicket stand with Fabian Allen (23), while striking four fours and two sixes. In reply, the ever-reliable Fletcher lashed three fours and three sixes to lead two partnerships that were to prove invaluable when the rains arrived.
The right-hander, the only Patriots batsman to pass 100 runs for the tournament with 198, punched three fours and sixes while adding 49 for the first wicket with Evin Lewis (20) and a further 55 for the second with Bravo who struck three fours and three sixes.