Zouks clinch playoff spot with easy win

Andre Fletcher batted through a scorching afternoon in the Florida heat, making an unbeaten 79 to set up a 63-run win over Jamaica Tallawahs in Lauderhill. It clinched a playoff berth for St Lucia Zouks and moved them two points clear of Trinbago Knight Riders into sole possession of third place. Zouks' total of 206 for 3 is the highest total of CPL 2016 and second-highest ever in the four-year history of the CPL.

Fletcher played the anchor role on a placid batting wicket as Johnson Charles and Shane Watson played the aggressor in partnerships of 89 and 59 for the first and second wickets respectively. Charles clubbed seven fours and two sixes in his 59 while Watson produced a flurry of sweetly-timed straight sixes, five in all, to make 43 off 20 balls.

Fletcher later said the Florida heat - temperatures hit 33C with a real feel of 38C with the humidity - were the hottest conditions he had ever played in.

Though the pitch played just as well in the second innings, Tallawahs were dealt an early blow when drawcard Chris Gayle was cramped up by Delorn Johnson and produced an edge to first slip for 13. Kumar Sangakkara kept up with the run rate early in the Powerplay, but got into a mix-up with Chadwick Walton and was run-out for 18 to make it 57 for 2 in the sixth over.

Walton eventually top-scored for Tallawahs with 54 off 51 balls but struggled to maintain momentum. Tallawahs needed 68 off the final two overs with Andre Russell on strike but when he was caught at the long-on boundary to start the 19th over, a playoff berth was clinched by Zouks.