Kennar Lewis' Powerplay aggression lays foundation for big Tallawahs win

A powerful attack on St Lucia Kings' new-ball spinners by opening batter Kennar Lewis resulted in the second-fastest half-century of the 2021 CPL and laid the platform for an imposing total that was well out of reach to chase in a 55-run for Jamaica Tallawahs.

Lewis brought up his fifty off 21 balls with a single off David Wiese in the seventh over after having wreaked havoc earlier on Jeavor Royal, Samit Patel and Roston Chase in the first four overs of play.

Lewis justified Rovman Powell's decision to bat first as he bullied Royal's left-arm spin in the opening over, slicing two fours over the off side before heaving a six over midwicket in the first four balls. After opening partner Kirk McKenzie struck Alzarri Joseph for three boundaries in the second over, Lewis got back to work on Patel in the third, punishing a leg-stump line for two fours and two sixes to start the over. After McKenzie fell to Chase in the fourth, Lewis stole momentum back just as fast by ending the over with another slog sweep over the leg side rope.

Lewis eventually fell to a slower ball from Kadeem Alleyne flicked to deep midwicket for a catch by Royal, but at 91 for 2 in the eighth over, Tallawahs were off to a flying start and continued to maintain a double-digit run rate the rest of the way. Imad Wasim gave Tallawahs one more final boost in the 20th over, clubbing a hat-trick of sixes off Alleyne to push them past the 200 barrier.

Three of Kings' top four - Andre Fletcher, Mark Deyal and Chase - blasted rapid cameos and at 104 for 2 in the ninth over put their side in a superb position to overhaul the target of 212. But Carlos Brathwaite struck with back-to-back deliveries, getting Deyal with a slower bouncer pulled tamely to deep square leg before Chase fell next ball to a bouncer at full pace gloved down the leg side to Lewis.

Kings could not recover from the twin setbacks as Imad left-arm spin and a pair of sharp run outs dented Kings further before they were eventually bowled out for 156 with 11 balls left unused.