Shakib's Jamaica conquer CPL
In terms of winning competitions, year 2016 has been a good one for Shakib Al Hasan. After winning the Dhaka Premier League -- the country's premier 50-over competition -- with Abahani, Shakib went on to ace the Caribbean Premier League with the Jamaica Tallawahs.
The comfortable nine-wicket win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Warner Park in St. Kitts yesterday added yet another feather to his cap.
Coming on as first change after Tallawahs chose to bowl, Shakib scalped two crucial wickets, those of Chris Lynn and Jason Mohammad, after which Guyana were bundled out for just 93. After the exchange Chris Gayle hammered six sixes during a whirlwind half-century to lead Jamaica to the championship in style.
After a bright start to the season, the left-armer was not performing too well in the lead-up to the final. There were two ducks and two matches where he went wicket-less. However, he returned to form just when Jamaica needed him. Jamaica needed a win against Trinidad and Tobago to qualify for the final on August 5 and he contributed with 19 runs and a three-wicket haul.
Yesterday, Gayle made Shakib bowl all his four overs within the first nine and the left-armer did not disappoint. He finished with figures of two for 25. With the Warner Park wicket offering absolutely no turn, it was a lot more difficult for the left-armer to contain the batsmen. His ploy was to bowl straight and let the batsmen commit mistakes. While Lynn was caught at cover, Mohammad was trapped in front with a straighter delivery.
In 13 matches, Shakib scored a total of 160 runs at an average of 22.85. With the ball he scalped 12 wickets at a miserly economy rate of 6.94. His highlight of the tournament was during the group stages when he scored a match-saving half-century against the Warriors and helped Jamaica chase down 128 with a 47-ball 54. He had also scalped a wicket in that game.
While Imad Wasim was named as the player of the match for his three scalps, Andre Russel, who had a brilliant tournament and was also the key reason behind Jamaica's arrival in the final, was named the player of the tournament.
Scores in brief
Guyana Amazon Warriors: 93 all out in 16.1 overs (Tanvir 42; Imad 3-21, Williams 2-12, Shakib 2-25)
Jamaica Tallawahs: 95 for 1 in 12.5 overs (Gayle 54 not out, Walton 25 not out; Emrit 1-13)
Result: Jamaica Tallwahs won by nine wickets.
Player of the match: Imad Wasim (Jamaica Tallawahs)
Player of the tournament: Andre Russel (Jamaica Tallawahs)
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