… to face TKR in semi-final tomorrow

THE St Kitts and Nevis Patriots will meet the Trinbago Knight Riders in tomorrow’s semifinal of the 2018 Hero Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament, after the clinched a two-wicket win with one ball to spare last evening against the Jamaica Tallawahs at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence.  

For a second night in succession, both the elimination matches ended with a six off the penultimate ball.

Chasing 192 for victory, the Patriots were indebted to Anton Devcich, who was the leader of the run-chase with a 23-ball 50. Chris Gayle (26), Fabian Allen (23), Brandon King (21) and Rassie van der Dussen (20), all supported well, but it was 15 required off final over.

A questionable decision to bowl Rovman Powell proved the downfall for Tallawahs. A flurry of genuine wides following a fallacious one manifested the pressure Powell was under, before a Ben Cutting six sealed it in 19.5 overs.

Earlier, Glenn Phillips showed why he will become a staple, particularly in this format of the game. The 21-year-old scored his second T20 hundred, and was the backbone of the Tallawahs total. The Kiwi plundered 103 off 63 balls as his side posted 191-5 off their 20 overs.

His knock included nine fours and six sixes before he was bowled by Aussie quick Cutting off the final ball of the innings. Earlier, Cutting had dropped Phillips on 79. The Tallawahs’ next highest scorer was fellow Kiwi Ross Taylor with 33 off 23 balls, while Powell (15) and David Miller (19) contributed at the backend of the innings.

The Tallawahs innings started shakily after they were send in to bat, but the Black Caps batsmen, Phillips and Taylor, eventually found their range, adding 70 for the second wicket.

The two-time CPL champions were off to a first-ball four, courtesy of Phillips, who cut Fabian Allen square of the wicket. However, the left-arm spinner responded perfectly with the wicket of Johnson Charles (3) in his second over.

Thereafter, the New Zealander pair ensured the 2017 runners-up early momentum was thwarted. Taylor offered the free-flowing Phillips solid support before he was bowled by Cutting (2-45) after, hitting four fours and a six in 23 balls at the crease.

Phillips stood firm at the other end and his heroics could help push his case for Black Caps selection for their T20s against Pakistan in the UAE, starting on October 31.