Afghanistan’s Mohammed Nabi leads Tallawahs a step closer to CPL final Loop Jamaica

Black Immigrant Daily News

Jamaica Tallawahs will head to Qualifier 2 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) following a 33-run victory over St Lucia Kings in the Eliminator on Tuesday night.

Electing to field after winning the toss at the Providence Stadium in Guyana, St Lucia Kings courtesy of a disciplined bowling display restricted the Tallawahs to 148.

The Tallawahs were never made to feel comfortable and but for some late order hitting from Afghanistan’s Mohammed Nabi they would have struggled to post a defendable total.

Nabi, batting a number seven, hammered 31 from 15 deliveries. He returned later to star with the ball as St Lucia Kings, chasing a victory target of 149, were bowled out for 115 with 12 balls remaining.

Earlier, the Kings had restricted the Tallawahs to a paltry 29 for two in the Powerplay as Barbadian pacer Matthew Forde and West Indies pacer Alzarri Joseph bowled exceptional lengths.

The Kings continued to take wickets at regular intervals and when Kesrick Williams removed Chris Green for two the Tallawahs found themselves 115 for eight. However, Nabi leads the counterattack following that dismissal. His 31 runs included four sixes. Shamarh Brooks had earlier scored 47 from 31 deliveries.

Namibia allrounder David Wiese was the best bowler for the Kings with three for 19 from his four overs. West Indies pacer Alzarri Josephs supported well with two for 31 while Forde, Kesrick Williams, and Jeavor Royal picked up a wicket apiece.

In reply, the Kings got off to a good start reaching 54 for two at the end of the Powerplay but when captain Faf du Plessis was dismissed for 41 in the eighth over the Kings found themselves in a hole from which they couldn’t recover.

Nabi closed out a good day with three for 10 from his four overs. West Indies allrounder Fabian Allen picked up three for 28 while Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim had two wickets each.

The Tallawahs’ victory now means that they will battle the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the second qualifier on Wednesday night to determine who will contest the Hero CPL final against the Barbados Royals on Friday.

Summarized scores:

Jamaica Tallawahs 148/8 (Brooks 47, Nabi 31*; Wiese 3/19, Joseph 2/31).

St Lucia Kings 115 (Du Plessis 41, Joseph 28*; Nabi 3/10, Allen 3/28).

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