Rampant Johann Jeremiah, Infernos dump Titans from T20 Breakout League

WINDWARD Islands Infernos (22 points) clinched a playoff spot in the inaugural West Indies T20 Breakout League when they got a thumping 86-run victory over the cellar-placed Jamaica Titans (eight points) at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba on May 6.

Before the encounter, skipper Alick Athanaze's team were languishing in fifth spot on the six-team table with ten points. However, after a totally dominant performance, they earned 12 points for defeating Jamaica and moved to second spot in the process.

Batting first, Windwards posted a daunting score of 211 for six – the highest score in the competition thus far. Athanaze (34 off 31 balls) played second fiddle to fellow left-hander Johann Jeremiah who took the life out of the Jamaican bowling attack with a vicious knock of 97 from 50 balls. Jeremiah hit seven fours and and eight sixes in his game-changing innings and missed out on getting a deserved century when he was bowled by Jamaica captain Ramaal Lewis (one for 27) in the 14th over.

Jeremiah was dismissed with the Windwards score on 142 for two, and the runs didn't stop flowing as they scored 69 off the last six overs to put a big score on the board. Teddy Bishop picked up where Jeremiah left off as he scored 44 off 22 balls with three sixes, with wicket-keeper/batsman Noelle Leo chipping in with 14 not out at the death.

Left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal delivered a fine spell in all the carnage as he had figures of two for 19, with Anthony Dackers grabbing two for 33.

Going after what would have been a record target, the Titans had the worst possible start with the bat as they slipped to 44 for five after just five overs. Jamaica's top four batsmen were dismissed for single digit scores, with fastbowlers Ryan John (two for 15) and Keon Gaston (two for 14) taking charge of the power play with early wickets.

The Titans got their biggest partnership of the innings when Lewis (25 off 16) and wicket-keeper/batsman Deethmar Anderson (35 off 27) put together 51 for the sixth wicket. Anderson became the first of leg-spinner Darel Cyrus' two scalps when he was dismissed in the 11th over, with the Titans slipping to 98 for eight when Michael Clarke fell to Cyrus in the 13th over.

Jamaica were put out of their misery in the 18th over as they were bowled out for 125 when Dackers was run out by Cyrus.

With the top three teams advancing from the round-robin phase of the competition, Windwards have secured a playoff spot alongside table-toppers Trinidad and Tobago Legions (31 points) for the final phase. From 7 pm on May 7, the Infernos are scheduled to play the fourth-placed Leewards Islands Thunder (19 points) in the final round-robin match.

The team which finishes atop the table will go straight into the May 10 final, with the second- and third-placed teams contesting a qualifier on May 9.

Summarised Scores:

WINDWARD ISLANDS INFERNOS – 211/6 from 20 overs (Johann Jeremiah 97, Teddy Bishop 44, Alick Athanaze 34; Jeavor Royal 2/19, Anthony Dackers 2/33) vs JAMAICA TITANS – 125 from 18 overs (Deethmar Anderson 35, Ramaal Lewis 25; Keon Gaston 2/14, Ryan John 2/15). Infernos won by 86 runs.