Kings rule in T10 opener

Surrey Kings showed they again will be a force to be reckoned with in the Jamaica Dream XI-sponsored Ten10 (T10) competition with a five-wicket win over Middlesex United Stars in the first match of the season at Sabina Park.

Kings bowlers were on point and skittled out United Stars for 71 in 9.5 overs, with Mico University off-spinner Antwin Stephens leading the way with three wickets for 13 runs in 1.5 overs.

Left-arm seamer Shalom Parnell rattled a couple of stumps to finish with two wickets for 11 runs from his two overs, with left-arm spinner Jeavor Royal chipping in with two wickets for 12 runs.

United Stars were behind the eight ball early and struggled at 25 for five in the fifth over before a brief flurry of runs from Milton Mills helped them to the 70-run mark.

Mills hit four fours in his knock of 24 before he fell in the final over at 70 for seven. Stephens then wrapped up the innings with three wickets in the last over.

Kings started their reply positively with national opener Kirk McKenzie with 13 and West Indies vice-captain Jermaine Blackwood with 11, putting on 25 runs before McKenzie fell to Damani Sewell after hitting a four and a six.

United Stars then picked up a few wickets at 54 for five to make things interesting, but Mickayle Riley with 13 and Jeavor Royal with 13 not out saw Kings over the line at 74 for five in 7.3 overs.

Sewell, bowling his off-spin, finished with two wickets for 13 runs from two overs.

Player-of-the-match Stephens said it was good to start the new season with a win under their belt.

"It's a wonderful feeling being it is my first T10 game in this competition. It was really a team effort, and it feels good to get off to a winning start," Stephens said.

Stephens stated that the win was not perfect and that they still needed a lot of work.

"We will be taking it a game at a time, but we have things to work on as we had a slow start in the batting area. We also have some work to do in the field," he added.

In the second game of the doubleheader, defending champions Surrey Royals defeated Cornwall Warriors by nine wickets.