King, Gordon star as Tallawahs whip Patriots

BRANDON KING produced a fine knock of 89 while past bowler Nicholson Gordon claimed three wickets as Jamaica Tallawahs got things underway in the 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a 47-run victory over 2021 winners St Kitts/Nevis Patriots, in the opening match of the season, at Warner Park, Basseterre, St Kitts on Wednesday evening.

King, the West Indies T20 opener, who joined the Tallawahs from Guyana Amazon Warriors during the off-season, lashed eight fours and six sixes in his 57-ball knock as the Tallawahs, who were offered first strike, amassed 183 runs for the loss of two wickets.

Fellow opening batsman Kennar Lewis overcame a slow start to hit a 46-ball 48, inclusive of six sixes, while captain Rovman Powell contributed an unbeaten 30 (15 balls, three sixes and a four).

Patriots captain and evergreen all-rounder Dwayne Bravo, and West Indies Under-19 left-arm spinner Jaden Carmichael, got a wicket apiece for the Patriots.

Gordon, a 30-year-old fast bowler in his first-ever CPL, and T20 encounter, took three wickets for 32 runs, as the Patriots were restricted to 136/8.

Sherfane Rutherford struck 33 (22 balls, four sixes) and the experienced Andre Fletcher, in his first game for the Patriots, made 31 (34 balls, two fours and a six), but the hosts were unable to keep pace with the run-rate. For the Patriots, left-arm spinner Imad Wasim got 2/20 and South African pacer Migael Pretorious took 2/35.