CPL: Tallawahs thump sloppy Warriors to move ahead in playoff race
SUMMARY: Jamaica Tallawahs 177-2 (Ross Taylor 60*, Ravomon Powell 55*, Imran Tahir 2-30) beat Amazon Warriors 173-6 (Jason Mohamed 54, Shimron Hetmyer 48; Powell 2-21) by eight wickets and seven balls remaining
Guyana Amazon Warriors were consigned to their fourth loss this season due to an eight-wicket triumph by Jamaica Tallawahs on Saturday evening at the National Stadium, Providence.
Set 174 for victory, Tallawahs raced to 177-2 in 18.1 overs, led by fluent and unbeaten knocks from Ross Taylor and Rovman Powell in an unbroken third wicket stand of 114 from 69 balls.
The defeat meant Warriors must win the final group match against Trinbago Knight Riders in order to stand a chance at finishing in the top-two which gives either teams two chances at playing in the final; St Kitts Patriots and Tallawahs are the other teams to secure a playoff spot.
Openers Glenn Phillips and Johnson Charles had some fortune in the intense commencement to the run-chase until Phillips was trapped leg before by an Imran Tahir googly for a 17-ball 27. Charles carried on merrily until he too was unable to pick the wrong-un from the leg-spinner.
There were no more blemishes as Taylor and Powell capitalised on anything loose, in a fielding display by Warriors which left much to be desired.
Apart from Tahir, the other bowlers lacked consistency and delivered too many loose balls which made the challenging total at the half-way stage into one which was firmly under the grip of Tallawahs. Warriors had a shocking start even before the first ball was bowled with Rayad Emrit being dropped and Chris Green replacing him as captain.
Opening woes continued and even the new pair of Cameron Delport and Luke Ronchi could not contribute a promising start with the latter back in the hut with just 11 on the board.
Shimron Hetmyer came into the mix, picked up the slack with Delprot and kept a healthy run-rate, reaching 42-1 at the end of the Powerplay. The two kept going handsomely until the Powell produced a stunner at long-on to remove Delport, who had struck five fours and one six in a high-tempo 34.
Jason Mohamed, who has not fired big for the Warriors this season, came good in a crucial match. He started slowly, but gradually upped the ante as the innings progressed, smashing an innings defining 33-ball 54 (5x4s; 3x6s); himself and Hetmyer added 61 for the third wicket in 44 balls.
Hetmyer, who had a century this season at Providence, looked set on emulating such a feat once more, He was going guns blazing until some concentrated bowling stymied his scoring and he fell for 48 (4x4s; 1×6) to Ish Sodhi playing in his first match.
Chadwick Walton, who played more the role of a finisher this innings, helped add 52 in the final five overs, 16 of which came off the menacing Oshane Thomas. The total at the half-way staged of the match looked to be a challenging one.
Warriors will play the tournament’s final group match on Sunday (September 9) from 18:00h against Trinbago Knight Riders in front of what is expected to be a capacity crowd.
