Shakib fails to shine in CPL opener

Gayle hammers 51 for Tallahwahs

Shakib Al Hasan failed to live up to the expectation but his side Jamaica Tallahwahs made a winning start to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a hard-fought five-run win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in its opening match on Friday at  Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts.
The Bangladesh all-rounder scored just seven runs in batting while returned figures of one for 25 in four overs in bowling which quite didn’t justify his ability.
Three key wickets from fast bowler Kesrick Williams and tight bowling in the middle overs helped Jamaica Tallawahs stave off St Kitts and Nevis Patriots indeed in a slow surface. Tallawahs were also aided by a brisk fifty from captain Chris Gayle, who struck 51 off 36 balls, to help set Patriots a target of 154.
Patriots overcame the early loss of Evin Lewis thanks to Faf du Plessis and Lendl Simmons, who kept the side in the hunt.
Faf du Plessis, who struck 27 off 29 balls, was the common factor, sharing 39 for the second wicket with Lendl Simmons and then playing a foil to Jonathan Carter in a rapid partnership of 43 that came off 28 balls. Carter's 18-ball 27 included two sixes, and the pair helped Patriots narrow the equation down to 62 off 48 balls.
But Shakib Al Hasan gave the side a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Carter and brought Tallawahs back into the game. And then when du Plessis followed Carter, situation started becoming from bad to worst for Patriots.  
Tallawahs choked the runs by conceding 26 between the 15th and 19th overs. Williams dismissed Thisara Perera and Brad Hodge in the 18th over and Dale Steyn got rid of Carlos Brathwaite for 1 at the start of the 19th over to leave Patriots needing 30 off the last six balls. Despite three consecutive sixes from wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, Patriots could only muster 24 runs.
Williams, who played his first T20 since January 2013, ended with 3 for 23, while the rest of the Tallawahs attack, except Timroy Allen, took a wicket each.
Captain Gayle led from the front, giving a talismanic impetus to the inning before Andre Russell provided a late flourish. Gayle paired with Kumar Sangakkara to add 48 runs for the second wicket, after Chadwick Walton fell in the first over for 3. Shakib Al Hasan however failed to give the side any edge with batting but Gayle kept the scoreboard ticking.
By the time Gayle was dismissed, he had struck four fours and three sixes in his 51, but quick wickets in the middle overs had left Tallawahs at a shaky 109 for five in the 16th over.
Russell provided the impetus with an unbeaten 34 off 20 deliveries. He slammed two sixes and a four in an 18-run over bowled by Krishmar Santokie and helped Tallawahs add 44 in the last four overs to climb to 153.

Shakib fails to shine in CPL opener

Gayle hammers 51 for Tallahwahs

Shakib Al Hasan failed to live up to the expectation but his side Jamaica Tallahwahs made a winning start to the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a hard-fought five-run win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in its opening match on Friday at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts. The Bangladesh all-rounder scored just seven runs in batting while returned figures of one for 25 in four overs in bowling which quite didnt justify his ability. Three key wickets from fast bowler Kesrick Williams and tight bowling in the middle overs helped Jamaica Tallawahs stave off St Kitts and Nevis Patriots indeed in a slow surface. Tallawahs were also aided by a brisk fifty from captain Chris Gayle, who struck 51 off 36 balls, to help set Patriots a target of 154. Patriots overcame the early loss of Evin Lewis thanks to Faf du Plessis and Lendl Simmons, who kept the side in the hunt. Faf du Plessis, who struck 27 off 29 balls, was the common factor, sharing 39 for the second wicket with Lendl Simmons and then playing a foil to Jonathan Carter in a rapid partnership of 43 that came off 28 balls. Carters 18-ball 27 included two sixes, and the pair helped Patriots narrow the equation down to 62 off 48 balls. But Shakib Al Hasan gave the side a crucial breakthrough by dismissing Carter and brought Tallawahs back into the game. And then when du Plessis followed Carter, situation started becoming from bad to worst for Patriots. Tallawahs choked the runs by conceding 26 between the 15th and 19th overs. Williams dismissed Thisara Perera and Brad Hodge in the 18th over and Dale Steyn got rid of Carlos Brathwaite for 1 at the start of the 19th over to leave Patriots needing 30 off the last six balls. Despite three consecutive sixes from wicketkeeper Devon Thomas, Patriots could only muster 24 runs. Williams, who played his first T20 since January 2013, ended with 3 for 23, while the rest of the Tallawahs attack, except Timroy Allen, took a wicket each. Captain Gayle led from the front, giving a talismanic impetus to the inning before Andre Russell provided a late flourish. Gayle paired with Kumar Sangakkara to add 48 runs for the second wicket, after Chadwick Walton fell in the first over for 3. Shakib Al Hasan however failed to give the side any edge with batting but Gayle kept the scoreboard ticking. By the time Gayle was dismissed, he had struck four fours and three sixes in his 51, but quick wickets in the middle overs had left Tallawahs at a shaky 109 for five in the 16th over. Russell provided the impetus with an unbeaten 34 off 20 deliveries. He slammed two sixes and a four in an 18-run over bowled by Krishmar Santokie and helped Tallawahs add 44 in the last four overs to climb to 153.