PROVIDENCE: Jamaica Tallawahs – featuring the Pakistani duo of Mohammad Amir and Imad Wasim – thrashed Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2022 final to lift their third title.
Set to chase a commendable 162 in the final, the Tallawahs comfortably steered to the glory in the 17th over with eight wickets to spare, thanks to a magnificent half-century from Brandon King.
The side, however, had a poor start to their run chase as they lost their opener, Kennar Lewis, for a duck at a combined score of a mere one.
Shamarh Brooks and King then put on a match-defining 86-run partnership for the second wicket and scored at a rapid pace.
The pair appeared solid and were looking confident to run away with the victory before experienced all-rounder Jason Holder struck in the 11th over to break the important partnership.
Holder trapped Brooks with a half-volley as he ended up flicking the ball straight to the deep square leg fielder before walking back to the pavilion after scoring 47 off 33 deliveries with the help of six boundaries and two sixes.
Brooks’ dismissal did not bother King much as he continued his domination over the Royals’ bowlers and carried on the winning momentum.
The right-handed top scored for his side with an unbeaten knock of 83 off just 50 balls, laced with 13 boundaries and two sixes, while skipper Rovman Powell scored an unbeaten 14 and made sure to firm one end.
For the Royals, Kyle Mayers and Holder managed to make one scalp each.
Batting first after winning the toss, the Royals could manage to finish at 161/7 in the allotted 20 overs despite an anchoring half-century from wicketkeeper batter Azam Khan.
Royals’ openers Rakheem Cornwall and Mayers gave a solid start to the side as they amassed 63 runs in the powerplay.
Fabian Allen, however, removed both the openers in his consecutive overs to shift the momentum in the Tallawahs’ favour.
Following the slump, Azam and Holder joined hands to script a much-needed recovery and added 48 runs for the third wicket.
The partnership remained heavily dominated by Azam but Holder, on the other hand, was too cautious before departing in the 15th over after scoring a snail-paced 17.
The Royals then began to lose wickets at an alarming rate as Nicholson Gordon triggered a lower-order collapse and halted the side from amassing a massive total.
Azam top-scored for Royals with 50 off 41 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and three sixes.
Allen and Gordon bagged three wickets each for Tallawahs in the final, while Imad struck out a batter.
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