MAN OF THE MATCH Shoaib Malik left the Barbados Tridents on a winning note tonight in St Kitts.
Playing in his penultimate match of the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 Cricket tournament, Malik steadied the Tridents’ innings with 51 off 34 balls, helping them post a winning total of 148 for eight off 20 overs.
St Lucia Zouks were restricted to 133 for nine and Tridents remain at the top of the tables on eight points after the 15-run victory.
Malik has reportedly been called up by his country Pakistan for the One Day International Series against Sri Lanka. He hit five fours and one six in his knock before he fell to a great running catch by Darren Sammy off the bowling of Fidel Edwards in the Tridents’ final over.
He will be replaced by Pakistan Test captain Misbah-ul-Haq.
The team said thanks on Twitter.
We’re very proud you’re a #Tridents #ReturningChamp We’ll miss you! Thanks for your #CPL15 contribution! https://t.co/8u0iXZDihx
Dilshan Munaweera (26), Dwayne Smith (22) and Jonathan Carter (14) and Shai Hope (10) all chipped in for Tridents who lost captain Kieron Pollard cheaply, run out for five.
Sammy and Kemar Roach took two wickets each.
St Lucia Zouks were cruising along ahead of the required run rate and the commentators had already picked them to win, when the match turned.
On 78 for two, Rayad Emrit broke the 56-run partnership between Andre Fletcher and Ross Taylor (20). Fletcher lofted the ball straight to Pollard’s hands at long off. His 52 came off 38 balls and included two fours and four sixes.
That opened the door for the Tridents’ bowlers. Emrit took three for 15 and spinners Jeevan Mendis and Robin Peterson two wickets each.
Roach lofted a mighty six off Ravi Rampaul off the final ball of the match, but it was too little too late.
On Tuesday night, Chris Gayle made the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots pay, leading Jamaica Tallawahs to a seven-wicket victory. Dropped on 49 by Orlando Peters, Gayle went on to score 72 off 54 balls.
Tallawahs scored 164 for three with five balls remaining in reply to Patriots’ 160 for five.
Martin Guptill and captain Marlon Samuels scored 53 and 50, respectively.
Summarised scores:
Barbados Tridents 148 for 8 in 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 51, Dilshan Munaweera 26, Dwayne Smith 22, Jonathan Carter 14, Shai Hope 10; Darren Sammy 2-28, Kemar Roach 2-37). St Lucia Zouks 133-9 in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 52, Ross Taylor 20, Darren Sammy 15; Rayad Emrit 3-20, Jeevan Mendis 2-15, Robin Peterson 2-32). Tridents won by 15 runs.
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots 160-5 in 20 overs (Martin Guptill 53, Marlon Samuels 50, Tonito Willett 31, Evin Lewis 10; Krishmar Santokie 4-37). Jamaica Tallawahs 164-3 in 19.1 overs (Chris Gayle 72 n.o., Chris Lynn 52, Andre Russell 21, Chadwick Walton 10). Tallawahs won by seven wickets.
Teams            Mat     Won   Lost    Tied   N/R    Points
Tridents        5         4         1         0         0         8
Zouks           5         2         2         0         1         5
Tallawahs      3         2         1         0         0         4
Patriots          3         1         2         0         0         2
Red Steel       2         0         1         0         1         1
Amazon Warriors    2         0         2         0         0         0 (SAT)
