THE Guyana Amazon Warriors and the Jamaica Tallawahs will battle for the Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20 crown when they clash in the grand finale at the Queen’s Park Oval today from 22:00 hrs.

In a sensational display of brutal power-hitting by Andre Russell 29 not out (4x6s and 1×4 off 6 balls, strike rate of 483.33) coupled with a masterful match-winning knock  by Kumar Sangakkara 50 not out (2x6s and 4x4s off 38 balls) enabled the Jamaica Tallawahs to celebrate a fabulous seven-wicket victory over the Tridents in the second semi-final encounter at the same venue last evening and earned the right to contest the final.
Imagine 35 sparkling runs were scored off just 11 deliveries when Russell exploded and smashed Jason Holder for three consecutive sixes to clinch the victory that set off the Tallawahs into ecstasy and joyous celebrations.
Having been set 149 for victory; the Jamaica Tallawahs suffered an early setback at 16 when their iconic captain Christopher Gayle (3 runs off 9 balls) was smartly caught by his opposite number Pollard off the bowling of medium pacer Azhar Mahmood.
But there was no further trouble as their latest recruit Kumar Sangakkara displayed his world class talent and ability to absorb pressure and seize control with skilfully played strokes all round the wicket.
The Sri Lankan star had replaced Pakistani Ahmed Shehzad in the starting line-up and he proved his worth with a stellar performance which he re-ignited the Tallawahs hope and played a heroic knock that carried the Tallawahs to the final against the Amazon Warriors.
Opener Chadwick Walton also contributed with an attacking 45 that contained one six and five fours off 40 balls and shared an invaluable 71-run second wicket partnership with Sangakkara who batted right through to ensure the Tallawahs  smooth passage to the final which should be a very exciting affair with the two best teams fighting to be crowned the Caribbean champions of T20 cricket.
Lady luck was smiling on the Tallawahs as Walton (on 26 and score at 53 for 1) survived a very close call for LBW decision to leftarm spinner Shakib Al Hasan while Sangakkara also had two catches dropped by Kyle Mayers and especially by Raymond Reifer when he was on 43 and the score at 107 for 2.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors had already secured the first berth in the final when they crushed home based Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel by seven wickets with 22 legitimate deliveries to spare last Thursday evening.
After 21 preliminary matches and the two semi-finals, the stage is set for the massive showdown by the two “Big Guns”.
And cricket lovers as well as other sporting aficionados who love the hybrid version of the flannelled game is expected to be treated to an exciting battle for supremacy and to claim the historic first professional T20 crown in the Caribbean.
The entertainment factor has been high pitched with steelpan, drumming, tassa, and booming DJs boxes while the matches have been graced by colourful carnival costumed characters, skimpily-clad dancing and winning cheerleaders at various vantage points around the outer perimeter of the playing field providing the enthusiastic fans at the ground and on TV with the sideshow that makes T20 the most attractive format of the game.
Having batted first, the Barbados Tridents got off to a shaky start with the early dismissals of experienced opener Dwayne Smith (1 run), victim of a controversial LBW decision off the first ball of the second over bowled by Dave Bernard whose slanting delivery was heading towards the leg side and followed by Jason Holder (5 runs), who offered wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh a regulation catch off the first ball of the third over bowled by South African Vernon Philander.
Raymond Reifer, promoted to open with Smith, remained calm under pressure and found a valuable partner in Pakistan’s experienced all-rounder Shoaib Malik who carried the attack to the Tallawahs with some bold attacking strokes. Their rescue act proved the cornerstone for an overall challenging total of 148 for 6 at the end of the allotted 20 overs.
The Reifer/Malik combo posted the first century partnership of the tournament and together they added 102 runs for the third wicket.
Reifer made 36 (3x4s off 43 balls) while Malik topscored with 49 (studded with three huge sixes and one four off 47 balls) but both were dismissed with successive balls in the 17th over. Reifer was run out by the Andre Russell/Gayle combo off the fifth delivery while Malik was caught by Chadwick Walton off Gayle’s final delivery.
Skipper Kieron Pollard his intention with two crunching fours but also was run out by Russell’s direct throw when he was 13 (7 balls) while Pakistan’s all-rounder Azhar Mahmood, in his first match; faced seven balls and hit one six and one four for his 14 while Kyle Mayers was undefeated on 12.
Philander took two for 28 while Gayle (1 for 14) and Bernard (1 for 21) were the other wicket-takers.