Green leads Tridents to winning CPL start

Chris Green made a winning start as Barbados Tridents captain as his side held their nerve to beat Jamaica Kingsmen by five runs in a thrilling opening match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at Sabina Park on Tuesday night.
Needing 15 runs from the final over, Jamaica fell short after losing two wickets to Ramon Simmonds in a dramatic finish.
A single and two wides were followed by a massive six from Andre Russell, leaving the Kingsmen needing six from three balls before Simmonds struck again to seal victory for the Tridents.
However, Russell was then caught off the next delivery, to bring to end an innings of 68 from 38 balls, which featured nine sixes.

Vitel Lawes was also well set, but his dismissal for 32 off 20 balls off the following delivery swung the momentum back in the Tridents’ favour, as Jamaica eventually finished on 201 for nine.

Earlier skipper Rovaman Powell added 38 off 24 balls and Keacy Carty 45 from 27, while for the Tridents Player of the Match Daniel Sams
took wickets at key intervals, as he grabbed four for 20.

“Rovman Powell and Andre Russell are two of the most powerful hitters in the world. They’re some of the best in the business for a reason, and even when you think you’re ahead of the game or sneaking close to home, they just hit their way out of it. Sometimes you just have to tip the cap and say we entertained the crowd tonight,” Green said,

Earlier after being sent into bat, the Tridents made the best possible start to the new campaign as openers Brandon King and Zachary Carter smashed the Jamaican bowlers to all parts of the ground.

Carter was dismissed midway through the third over of the match after blazing 27 runs from just 15 deliveries, but King went on to topscore with 73 from 51 balls, including five fours and four sixes.

Quinton de Kock chipped in with 42 from 25 balls, while Sherfane Rutherford was left unbeaten on 50 from 28 deliveries, as the Tridents top order batsmen all chipped to amass 206 for three, a total that would ultimately elude the Kingsmen in their turn at the crease.

(KH)