Russell ton, Shakib strikes take Tallawahs to final

Bangladesh allrounder Shakib Al Hasan chipped in with three wickets after Andre Russell’s whirlwind ton to take Jamaica Tallawahs to the CPL 2016 final at the expense of Trinbago Knight Riders.

After being asked to bat first, Tallawahs made halting progress in their first 10 overs. However, things got a move on after Russell came to the crease. His 101-run fifth-wicket partnership with Shakib Al Hasan came off just 53 balls and lifted his side to 195; Shakib contributed 19 off 23, reports ESPNcricinfo.

In reply, Knight Riders lost Umar Akmal early, to a run-out, and pottered to 18 for 1 in three overs before a lengthy rain delay led to a D/L-adjusted target of 130 in 12 overs.

Shakib came back strongly after getting some stick in his first over. In the 11th over, he snared three wickets to snuff out any chance of a victory for the Trinbago Knight Riders. After Amla struck him for a four in the first ball, Shakib got his man as the Proteas batter was undone with pace and length.

Amla shimmied down the track and wily Shakib fired the ball on off stump. Sanga didn’t make any mistake as he stumped Amla for 37. With his fourth delivery of the over, Shakib sent back Sunil Narine after the West Indies spinner skied a low full toss towards backward square leg. The last nail in Trinbago’s coffin was hammered with the last ball of Shakib’s spell. Dwayne Bravo smashed a full ball on off straight down the throat of long-on.

Although Shakib gave 23 runs in two overs, he took three wickets to help his side’s cause in the second qualifier of CPL 2016.

The final will be held on August 8, 2016 at Basseterre where Shakib’s Jamaica Tallawahs will lock horns with Guyana Amazon Warriors. The match is scheduled to begin at 5:00am Bangladesh time.

Jamaica Tallawahs 195 for 7 (Russell 100, Cooper 3-45, Narine 1-22) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 110 for 7 [12 overs] (Munro 38, Shakib 3-23, Russell 2-27) by 19 runs (D/L method)