CPL 2023: Tallawahs beat Patriots to keep playoff hopes alive

Jamaica Tallawahs earned a vital 59-run victory over the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots to ensure they remained in contention for the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) playoff stage next week.

The Tallawahs won the toss and chose to bat first, and despite losing early wickets to the spin of Ashmead Nedd and George Linde, a 62-run seventh-wicket partnership between Shamar Springer and Fabian Allen hauled the side to a formidable 178-7 after 20 overs.

Despite a valiant 65 from Yannic Cariah, Patriots were bowled out for 119, Mohammad Amir taking four wickets in a brilliant spell.

The Jamaican franchise were restricted in the Powerplay by the bowling of Sheldon Cottrell and Ashmead Nedd, with the latter taking the wickets of Brandon King and Kirk McKenzie to leave the Tallahwahs reeling at 31-2 at the end of the Powerplay.

When spinner George Linde took two wickets in successive deliveries in the following over, the Tallawahs found themselves in crisis at 34-4.

However, Raymon Reifer, Springer and Allen would all contribute with runs for the remainder of the innings, as the Tallawahs scored 72 runs from the final five overs to reach 178-7. The Patriots fell behind the over rate and were given a red card for the final over, with Cariah leaving the field.

The Patriots lost their experienced openers Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher in the Powerplay, while big hitters Will Smeed and Sherfane Rutherford would lose their wickets shortly afterwards, with Amir and Imad Wasim bowling superbly.

Cariah would score 65 off just 40 balls, his highest score in T20 cricket, but it was to be in vain as the Patriots were bowled out for 119, ending their CPL campaign with another loss.

Jamaica Tallawahs return to CPL action on Sunday morning where they will be taking on the St. Lucia Kings. (CPL)