Bowlers wreak havoc as Strikers crush Lions in Max60

CAYMAN ISLANDS: Isuru Udana dismantled Miami Lions’ batting lineup with a three-for and led New York Strikers to a convincing five-wicket victory in the fourth match of the Max60 here on Monday.

Put into bat first, the Lions’ batting unit unfolded on a meagre 52 in nine overs.

Miami Lions found themselves in heaps of trouble from the very first over as opening batter Chadwick Walton perished for three.

The Lions then lost a wicket each in the second and third overs before Mitchell Owen struck twice in the fifth over to reduce them to 22/5.

The Strikers’ bowlers, fuelled with momentum, continued to make inroads as the Lions sank further to 35/7 in 6.2 overs.

Coming out to bat at No.9, Ben Manenti, offered some resistance with his 14-run cameo which came off eight deliveries before falling victim to Isuru Udana in the penultimate over.

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Manenti was the only batter to amass the double figures while the rest seemed hapless against a ruthless Strikers’ bowling attack.

Udana was the pick of the bowlers for the Strikers with three wickets, followed by Thisara Perera and Mitchell Owen, who bagged two each.

Despite chasing a modest 53-run target, the Strikers had to make hard yards to amass the total as they did it for the loss of five wickets and 11 balls to spare.

The Strikers, after a shaky start, lost wickets at an alarming rate and were consequently reduced to 39/5 in 6.1 overs.

Top-order batter Colin Munro played an anchoring role for the Strikers in the run chase and returned unbeaten with a 16-ball 18.

Brandon McMullen (10) and Carlos Brathwaite (8*) were the other notable contributors for the Strikers.

The five-wicket victory lifted New York Strikers to third in the Max60 standings with two points while Miami Lions slipped to fourth.

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