THE St Lucia Zouks continued in splendid late season form after handing the Jamaica Tallawahs a first defeat in five games at Lauderhill yesterday.Batting first the Zouks, powered by Andre Fletcher’s 74 not out off 49 balls, piled up a massive 206 for 3 before restricting the Tallawahs to 143 for 8. The 63 runs win was the team’s fourth in five matches.
Openers Fletcher and Johnson Charles seemed determined to get the Zouks off to a fast start, and certainly succeeded in their mission. In support of his opening partner Charles blasted 59 from 37, a knock that included seven fours and two sixes.
Charles was eventually out caught by Ravmon Powell off the bowling of Shakib Al Hasan, with the Zouks at a comfortable 89-1.
Next in at the crease Australian Shane Watson was even more belligerent. Watson’s 43 runs came off just 20 balls before he was dismissed caught on the boundary by Chadwick Walton, after going after a shorter ball from Kesrick Williams.
Andre Russell proved to be the most expensive of the Tallawahs bowlers going for 64 runs without taking a wicket.
In pursuit the Tallawahs were struck by an early blow after talisman Chris Gayle was dismissed by Delorn Johnson in the second over. Gayle was caught at slips by Zouks skipper Darren Sammy.
His opening partner Chadwick Walton seemed set for another big innings after making 54 off 51, but regularly lost batting partners before being dismissed caught by Johnson off the bowling of Shane Shillingford as the Tallawahs failed to gather any meaningful momentum.
Johnson was the pick of the Zouks bowlers ending with figures of 3 for 30. (Sportsmax.com).