New Zealanders Brendon McCullum and Colin Munro's best efforts weren't enough for the Trinbago Knight Riders in their Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 clash with the Jamacia Tallawahs at Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain.
Brendon McCullum Photo: 2017 CPL T20
Trinbago set a daunting target of 223-6, an innings built on impressive half-centuries from Munro and McCullum, but the Tallawahs wrapped up a four-wicket win with three balls to spare, skipper Andre Russell blasting a 40-ball century in his unbeaten 121 from 49 balls.
Trinbago had looked well in control early on. Munro backed up his 68 in the opening match of the CPL with 61 from 42 balls here, but it was McCullum whose 56 blasted an already imposing total to record heights.
Having struggled to seven from his first 12 deliveries, the former Black Caps skipper then smashed a further 49 from his next 14 balls to propel the score well beyond 200.
Nine of those 14 balls, starting with a generous and extremely costly full toss from Kemar Roach, went to or over the boundary in a blitz that stunned the Tallawahs.
The 19th over, Roach's fourth, brought 30 runs, 29 of them from the flashing blade of McCullum. He was dismissed in the final over by Russell, the first wicket of a hat-trick which also included Darren Bravo and Denesh Ramdin.
Any hope the Tallawahs harboured of chasing down the impressive total appeared shattered within the first three overs as Ali Khan ripped out three wickets in six balls.
Glenn Phillips and Andre McCarthy were caught in the first over, but best of the lot was a rapid nip-backer that was too quick for the vastly experienced Ross Taylor, trapped plumb in front for just a single.
Two more wickets fell in the next over, and the game appeared done and dusted at 41-5. Russell had other ideas, however, and made the most of his chances in spectacular fashion after being dropped on his first ball by Ali Khan at deep midwicket.
-RNZ
