Barbados Tridents held their nerves and survived a brilliant onslaught from Andre Russell to win their opening match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The match marked a spectacular return of the region’s marquee tournament at Sabina Park in Kingston and the Bajans escaped with a victory by five runs in the Tuesday night thriller.
The visitors batted first and made the Tridents 206 for three off their 20 overs – their highest score in two years. The innings was built on Brandon King’s assured knock 73 from 51 balls with five fours and four sixes. Left-hander Sherfane Rutherford also played well in the middle overs with 50 not out off 28 balls with four boundaries and three sixes. They added 93 for the third wicket after teenager Zachary Carter on debut with 27 off 15 balls and Quinton deKock with 42 off 25 provided a solid platform.
In their first home match, the Kingsmen made a poor start at chasing the target when they slipped to eight runs for three wickets in the second over. Then, Russell showcased his awesome power-hitting to change the match. He smoked 68 off 38 balls – the 36th half-century of this career – and smashed nine sixes – including the 800th of his illustrious T20 career.
He fell off the fourth ball of the final over when he hit a skier to extra-cover and Rivaldo Clarke held a well-judged catch. The next ball Clarke was again in the game as his return to bowler Ramon Simmonds accounted for the run out of Vitel Lawes, who made 32 with four sixes in a stand of 69 in six overs with Russell.
In an amazing record Jamaica hit just one four and 21 sixes — the first time in history a feat of this nature was done.
Left-arm seamer Daniel Sams took four for 20 from his four overs and was named Player of the Match. He used cutters effectively and bowled slower balls hard into the pitch which proved effective on a surface that was good for batting. The Barbados Tridents will now travel to Saint Lucia where they will face the Saint Lucia Kings at the Daren Sammy Stadium on Sunday, August 16 at 7 p.m. The tournament continues on Wednesday at 7 p.m. when the Kings host St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.