By Frederick Halley

…play-offs bound CWI  B suffer second defeat

TORONTO, Canada – Sunil Narine saved the best for what was likely his last innings in the inaugural Global T20 Canada with a swashbuckling 61, firing Montreal Tigers to a comfortable six-wicket victory over Cricket West Indies B when the tournament entered its second round at the Maple Leaf Cricket Club ground, King City, here Tuesday.

Needing to get 163 for victory, after limiting West Indies B to 162 for seven in their allotted 20 overs, Montreal Tigers coasted to 165 for four in 17.3 overs. Their play-offs hope, however, hung in the balance as they await favourable results from the three remaining second round fixtures which are set to conclude on Wednesday. Despite their second defeat in as many games, Cricket West Indies B are already assured of a play-off place following their four successive wins.

The day, however, belonged to man-of-the-match Narine whose exploits with both bat and ball were under scrutiny, following his heroics in the Indian Premiere League (IPL). By the time the left-handed opener was dismissed off the first ball of the eighth over off left-arm spinner, Khary Pierre, he had plundered nine sixes and a solitary four in his 25-ball knock.

Narine, who dominated a second wicket stand of 71 with Australian Moses Henriques (32), took a special liking for fast-medium bowler Derval Green, belting the hapless bowler for four consecutive sixes before succumbing to Pierre’s first delivery, holing out to Shamar Springer at long-on.

Henriques fell in the 15^th over, caught at long-on by Springer off  left-arm spinner, Fabian Allen, as Cricket West Indies B scent an opening. However, cameos by Zimbabwean Sikandar Raza (32 off 29) and Najibulla Zadran (29 off 12) ensured no further alarms as the two shared an unbroken fifth wicket stand of 40 off 17 balls.

Pierre was CWI B best bowler with two for 25 from his four overs while Allen bowled economically to finish with one for 20.

CWI B had earlier started disastrously after being asked to take first strike, with  opener Sherfane Rutherford (two) losing his off stump to a searing yorker from skipper Lasith Malinga in the first over.

Springer, promoted to the opening spot due to an injury to the in-form Justin Greaves, counter-attacked superbly with a belligerent 62 before he was well caught by George Worker on the second attempt. The ebullient Springer belted seven sixes and three fours in his brilliant knock. Nicholas Pooran weighed in with a breezy 25 off 26 balls, slamming two sixes and a four while opener, Brandon King, hit five fours in a quick-fire 23.

The top and middle-order were, however, undone by teenage Nepal leg-spinner, Sandeep Lamichane, who grabbed three for 31 in his four-over spell, using the “wrong-un” to good effect while medium pacer Cecil Pervez took two for 31.

CWI B skipper Anthony Bramble, whose struggles with the bat continued after scoring four runs in the encounter, pointed out at the presentation ceremony that he’s confident that his team will still lift the top prize in Sunday’s final despite losing two games in a row.

In the evening’s nightcap, Vancouver Knights, the second team to join CWI B in the play-offs, took on Toronto Nationals who are struggling to make the cut. The second round concludes on Wednesday with Edmonton Royals opposing Winnipeg Hawks at 11.00 hrs.

Today, the battle resumes with the four play-off teams in action. Top-of-the-table, Vancouver Knights, take on second place CWI B from 11.00 am with the winners advancing to Sunday’s final. The second game at 16.00hrs will see Edmonton Royals opposing Winnipeg Hawks. The losers of the opening game will then battle with the winners of the second game at 15.00hrs on Saturday for a place in Sunday’s final with the winners guaranteed $500,000(US) and the coveted trophy.(Frederick Halley)