Tallawahs secure opening CPL win

Defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs got off to a winning start in the new Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season after defeating the St Lucia Kings by 11 runs in the opening fixture at the Darren Sammy Cricket Stadium in St Lucia last night.

New captain Brandon King led from the front with a superb half-century to set things up for the Tallawahs, who first posted 187 and then restricted the Kings to 176 for eight in their allotted 20 overs.

King opening the innings, smashed 81 from 53 balls with nine fours and three sixes to set up the formidable total, with fellow opener Kirk McKenzie chipping in with a brisk 20 from 11 balls.

Pakistani Imad Wasim weighed in with 19 runs from 14 balls towards the end of the innings as spinner Roston Chase picked up three wickets for 39 runs.

Chase would eventually lead the King's batting charge in the run chase, as his 53 from 31 balls kept the hosts in the contest to the final over.

Chase hit four fours and three sixes in his knock, but when he fell to debutant seamer Salman Irshad with the first ball of the final over, it virtually signalled the end to the run chase as the Kings could only manage 176.

Roshon Primus tried to get the Kings over the line with a quick-fire 37 from 20 balls as Wasim finished with three wickets for 27 runs, with Irshad and spinner Chris Green bagging two wickets each.

Winning captain King was pleased with his performance and Tallawahs' start to the new season.

"I am pretty happy to get the first win. I am just glad I contributed to the first game of the CPL. It is good to have some consistency, and I am feeling good at the crease and hope to continue in that same form," King said.