CPL ends in anti-climax
Published: Guardian
Sunday, August 17, 2014
Vinode Mamchan
Guyana's dream of winning the Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20 title disappeared due to rain, as they lost the 2014 finals by eight runs under the Duckworth/Lewis method at Warner Park in St Kitts. Guyana played their hearts out throughout the tournament but was never lucky at any time. They lost two matches through last-ball sixes and with 46 runs needed off 25 balls to lift the title, the rain came and shattered their dream and a chance at representing the region at the Champions League in India in October. They also lost out on the first prize of US$125,000 and will walk away with nothing but a broken heart.
Chasing 153 runs for victory, the Amazon Warriors reached 107 for four after 15.5 overs, when the heavens opened and the rain hung around just long enough to whittle away the time that was required to complete the job. After Tridents got half centuries from Dwayne Smith (59) and Shoaib Malik 55 not out, the Warriors were left to get 153, which was a below par score on the small ground. The Tridents bowlers backed by their inspirational captain Kieron Pollard, was up to the job and delivered when it mattered. The dangerous opening pair of Lendl Simmons and Martin Guptill could not fire and throughout the night, the Warriors were always behind the Duckworth/Lewis par score. It did not come as a surprise that they were behind the Tridents when the final and decisive shower came.
Earlier, the guile of Krishmar Santokie proved too much for the Tridents to handle. Fingers rolling across seam - seemed to be too perplexing and momentum was always the problem - with regular change of batting personell. The rain also made an appearance twice and this did not help the batting team. William Perkins, one of eight Trinidadians involved in the finals (the others being Ravi Rampaul, Pollard, Rayad Emrit, Denesh Ramdin, Sunil Narine, Simmons and Navin Stewart), did not trouble the scorers and so too did Jason Holder the pinch hitter.
Opener Smith and Malik then started the rescue work, which was interrupted by rain at 56 for two in the eight over. Smith looked good and utilised the short boundaries to his benefit. The Chennai Super Kings right-hander was able to put together a partnership off 88 runs in 10 overs with the Pakistani. While Smith was doing his thing the large contingent of Guyanese supporters were quiet. Those in the party stand were looking up to the heavens, hoping the rain stayed away. Although today was set aside as a reserve day, they were informed that if the match got washed out on both days, the Tridents would be crowned winners, by virtue of finishing at the top of the standings in the league phase.
The Amazon players also seemed taken up with the fickled weather and erred in line and length and Smith and Malik took advantage. Smith rushed to 59 from 52 balls and struck six fours and three sixes, before he fell to Narine. Next ball, the mystery man had Pollard flummoxed and the big burly power-hitter was out for the third duck of the innings. Raymond Reifer then gave Santokie his third wicket and at 111 for five in the 17th over. The experience of Malik then brought the Barbadian team right back into the contest. He and Jeevan Mendis took the eventual score to 152 for six off 20 overs. Malik was unbeaten on 55 at the end off 42 balls with four fours and two sixes. Mendis was run out off the final ball for 15 off 13 balls.
Lendl Simmons was named player of the tournament and got a US$400,000 piece of land at Peaumont Park in St Kitts.
SCOREBOARD
Amazon Warriors vs Tridents
Tridents inns
D Smith c Guptil b Narine 59
W Perkins c Hafeez b Santokie 0
J Holder b Santokie 0
S Malik not out 55
K Pollard c&b Narine 0
R Reifer b Santokie 5
J Mendis run out 15
Extras b4, lb7, w6, nb1 18
Total 6 wkts (20ovs) 152
Fall of wkts: 6, 8, 96, 96, 111, 152.
Bowling: K Santokie 4-0-19-3 (1w), V Permaul 4-0-30-0 (1w), R Beaton 2-0-33-0 (1nb, 2w), S Narine 4-0-20-2, M Hafeez 4-0-21-0 (1w), N Stewart 2-0-18-0 (1w).
Amazon Warriors
L Simmons c Reifer b Emrit 20
M Guptill b Mayers 7
M Hafeez c Emrit b Holder 28
J Neesham c Perkins b Holder 17
D Ramdin not out 14
C Barnwell not out 17
Extras b1, lb1, w1, nb1 4
Total 4 wkts (15.5ovs) 107
Fall of wkts: 12, 49, 74, 76.
Bowling: K Mayers 2-0-9-1 (1w), R Rampaul 2-0-10-0, J Holder 4-0-18-2, R Emrit 3-0-25-1 (1nb), A Mendis 1-0-8-0, K Pollard 3-0-25-0, R Reifer .5-0-10-0.
Result: Tridents won by 8 runs.
Player of the finals: Shoaib Malik.
Player of the Tournament: Lendl Simmonds
