Tallawahs' batsmen crumble to hand Zouks victory

A BATTING collapse by the Jamaica Tallawahs handed St Lucia Zouks an 11-run victory in the final preliminary match of the 2020 Hero Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, on Sunday.

The result did not change where the teams ended on the six-team table as Zouks finished third and Tallawahs finished fourth. Tallawahs will play Trinbago Knight Riders in the first semi-final at Tarouba on Tuesday, at 10 am. In the second game of the semi-final double-header, Zouks will match their skills against Guyana Amazon Warriors at 5.30 pm.

Tallawahs seemed set to reach the target of 146 as Glenn Phillips and Jermaine Blackwood took the score to 84 without loss in the 12th over. Four wickets then fell for seven runs as Zouks were back in the contest as Tallawahs were reduced to 91/4 in the 14th over.

Phillips started the slide when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Zahir Khan one short of a half century, before Blackwood was stumped by wicket-keeper Andre Fletcher off the bowling of leg-spinner Javelle Glenn for 25. Khan then grabbed the wickets of Tallawahs captain Rovman Powell and Andre Russell with consecutive deliveries. Powell was brilliantly caught at slip for two when Zouks captain Daren Sammy held on to a diving two-handed catch.

Russell was also caught by Sammy to leave the Tallawahs limping.

Wickets continued to tumble. After Chadwick Walton was run out for ten, it was Glenn's turn to pick up two wickets with consecutive deliveries.

The spinner first trapped Carlos Brathwaite leg before for one, then bowled Veerasammy Permaul for duck playing across the line as Tallawahs were now staring defeat on 103/7 after 16.3 overs.

Nicholas Kirton struck 25 off 15 balls to give Tallawahs hope, but when he fell in the penultimate over, the momentum was lost as the Jamaica franchise closed on 134/9 in 20 overs. Glenn grabbed 3/16, Khan took 3/25 and pace bowler Kesrick Williams picked up 2/27 in his four overs.

Earlier, Zouks posted 145/6 in 20 overs with contributions from a number of batsmen.

Rahkeem Cornwall and Mark Deyal put on 25 for the first wicket, before the latter was dismissed for 13.

Fletcher's stay at the crease was brief as he fell for one to leave Zouks on 36/2 in the seventh over.

Cornwall, who lashed two fours and three sixes in his knock of 32 off 29 deliveries, was then bowled by leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane.

After Mohammad Nabi (two) was dismissed cheaply, Najibullah Zadran and Roston Chase shared in a 61-run fifth-wicket partnership to help guide Zouks to their final total. Zadran was the top batsman hitting 35 off 25 balls with one four and three sixes.

Chase ended the innings unbeaten on 32, but strong death bowling by the Tallawahs limited the scoring in the last few overs.

Off-spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman, who is the joint leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 15 wickets along with Guyana Amazon Warriors leg-spinner Imran Tahir, snatched 2/28 in four overs.

Summarised Scores – ​ST LUCIA ZOUKS 145/6 (20 overs) - Najibullah Zadran 35, Roston Chase 32 not out, Rahkeem Cornwall 32; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 2/28 vs JAMAICA TALLAWAHS 134/9 (20 overs) - Glenn Phillips 49, Jermaine Blackwood 25, Nicholas Kirton 25; Javelle Glenn 3/16, Zahir Khan 3/25, Kesrick Williams 2/27. Zouks won by 11 runs. Man of the Match: Zahir Khan.