BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):
Man-of-the-Match Roshon Primus missed out on a half-century, but St Lucia Kings broke out of their rut to win their first match of the Men’s 6ixty cricket tournament with an eight-run result over Jamaica Tallawahs here yesterday.
Sent in at Warner Park, Kings rallied to 109 for five thanks to Primus who belted 48 from 25 deliveries, before New Zealander Scott Kuggeleijn snatched two for 18 to limit Jamaica Tallawahs to 101 for four.
Kings had lost their two opening games, while Tallawahs had won two on the trot in contrast.
Kings lost Leroy Lugg without scoring to the fourth ball of the morning with a single run on the board, but Primus lashed five fours and two sixes in a 75-run second-wicket stand with Johnson Charles (32) to rescue the innings.
Charles blasted a brace of fours and sixes in a 22-ball knock before he was second out, 21-year-old seamer Joshua James finishing with two for 25.
Early wicket
In reply, Tallawahs also lost an early wicket when Kennar Lewis perished for five in the second over with seven runs on the board.
However, Amir Jangoo struck 44 from 20 balls with three fours and three sixes and captain Rovman Powell, 34 from 25 balls with two fours and three sixes, to pull their side around in an 84-run second-wicket stand.
Tallawahs required 19 runs from the last 10 balls, but lost two wickets for three runs in six balls to fall apart.
Meanwhile, in the day’s second game, South African Corbin Bosch’s late salvo put Barbados Royals over the line for their second win.
Chasing 109 against Guyana Amazon Warriors, Royals overhauled their target with 10 balls to spare, to pull off a two-wicket victory.
The game was in the balance at 94 for four in the eighth over, after Royals lost two quick wickets. But the 27-year-old Bosch struck a brisk 11-ball unbeaten 26 with two fours and two sixes to erase any doubt over the outcome.
West Indies star Kyle Mayers had earlier blasted a 16-ball 31 with a four and four sixes, as he put on 32 for the first wicket with Rahkeem Cornwall (23) and 34 for the second wicket with Bosch.
Test left-arm spinner Veerasammy Permaul ended with two for 12.
Sent in, Amazon Warriors gathered 108 from their full complement of 10 overs, with captain Shimron Hetmyer slamming 32 from 18 balls with two fours and two sixes, and South African Heinrich Klaasen chipping in with 24 from 15 balls.
The innings was stuttering at 68 for five at the start of the eighth over, after 20-year-old left-arm seamer Ramon Simmonds (2-9) struck twice. However, Hetmyer and Keemo Paul (nine not out) posted a crucial 40 for the sixth wicket.