TAROUBA, Trinidad, (CMC) – Nicholas Pooran’s heavy scoring continued with a half-century as Trinbago Knight Riders won again with a seven-wicket whipping of Jamaica Tallawahs.
Asked to chase a modest 155, TKR galloped to their target in the 18th over to pick up their fifth win in eight matches, as Pooran followed up his blistering 100 last week with a top score of 54 from 35 deliveries.
Opener Martin Guptill struck 53 not out off 45 deliveries while broad-shouldered Andre Russell put the finishing touches on the chase with a 12-ball unbeaten 20.
The victory handed TKR sole possession of the lead in the standings – at least temporarily – on 11 points, with the unbeaten Guyana Amazon Warriors who defeated Barbados Royals on Sunday.
Sent in, Tallawahs could only muster 154 for eight off their 20 overs with Imad Wasim once again coming to the rescue with 62 off 33 deliveries, as the specialist batsmen struggled.
Jermaine Blackwood chipped in with 29 from 35 balls but the innings unravelled thanks to incisive spells from fast bowler Ali Khan (3-27) and off-spinner Sunil Narine (2-29).
The defeat was Tallawahs’ fourth defeat in seven games, leaving them one from bottom of the league on five points.
Tallawahs slipped to 29 for two in the sixth over before Blackwood and Shamarh Brooks (9) added 24 for the third wicket to stage a minor recovery.
Blackwood put on a further 35 for the fourth wicket with Imad who then marshalled the back end in a 47-run, fifth wicket with Fabian Allen (14), before a clatter of wickets in the final over saw the innings tail off again.
Imad struck 12 fours and three sixes.
TKR’s run chase was never really in peril despite the loss of Sunil Narine for 15 in the second over with 22 runs on the board as Pooran and Guptill dominated thereafter.
The left-handed Pooran struck six fours and two sixes while Guptill belted five fours and a six, the pair putting on a match-winning 80 for the third wicket.
When Pooran and Kieron Pollard (6) perished in the space of 12 balls, Russell crunched three sixes in a cameo to bring a swift end to the contest.
