Tridents squeak by to keep Hawksbills winless

Antigua Hawksbills' luckless 2014 Caribbean Premier League campaign continued with a one-wicket defeat at the hands of Barbados Tridents Friday night at Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. Akeal Hosein shook off a kamikaze run-out - which consumed his partner Rayad Emrit, the ninth Tridents wicket - on the third ball of the final over by calmly flicking a two through midwicket with the field spread to scamper to a win with two balls to spare.

The loss keeps Hawksbills winless from five games and only a dramatic turnaround in their final four games will give them a chance at advancing into the CPL playoffs. The Tridents win ensures they keep pace at the top of the CPL table with Tallawahs, Red Steel and Amazon Warriors as all four teams currently sit level on six points.

Tridents captain Kieron Pollard sent the Hawksbills in to bat and Danza Hyatt's runout three balls into the match set the tone for a poor start by the visitors. Ravi Rampaul made further inroads by striking three times before the end of the power play to leave the Hawksbills 24 for 4 at the six over mark.

Marlon Samuels pieced together a responsible 66, including a 51-run fifth-wicket stand with David Hussey in a bid to salvage the innings. Any hopes of a late charge were scuttled when Kieron Pollard fooled Samuels with a slow bouncer on the first ball of the 18th over to send a catch to Ashley Nurse at mid-off to make it 111 for 6. Rampaul claimed Sheldon Cottrell with a yorker in the 19th to cap off a Man-of-the-Match effort with figures of 4 for 15 as Hawksbills finished on 129 for 8.

One match after smashing an unbeaten 110, Dwayne Smith fell without scoring in the first over of the chase after mistiming an attempted pull off Cottrell to midwicket. Tridents recovered to reach the halfway stage of the chase on 70 for 3, needing a run a ball the rest of the way with Jonathan Carter well set on 25.

Even after Kieron Pollard fell for 14 hooking Carlos Brathwaite to deep square leg, Tridents seemed on course for an easy win. But Carter ran himself out for 35 as he attempted a needless second in the 16th over. It sparked a slide as three wickets fell in 10 balls to turn the match in Hawksbills favour.

Hawksbills inched even closer when Nurse went for a reckless heave in the 19th over and skied a catch to point, making it 119 for 8. Tridents entered the final over needing 10 to win with two wickets in hand.

A single on the first ball of the 20th turned to three, thanks to a poor collection by the wicketkeeper that allowed a second run which was then compounded by a sloppy overthrow. Emrit reverse swept the next ball for four before the final frantic two balls produced hope and then more heartbreak for Hawksbills.