KINGSTON – Kirk McKenzie’s scintillating half-century, coupled with some impressive power hitting by Rovman Powell and Andre Russell, guided the Jamaica Kingsmen to their maiden victory in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League, a five-wicket win over the Trinbago Knight Riders in Jamaica on Saturday.
McKenzie, who was named Player-of-the-Match, slammed a boundary-studded 69 off just 25 balls to set the tone for the Kingsmen in their run chase, as they easily overhauled the Knight Riders’ total of 182 for six, finishing on 183 for five in 18.4 overs, to grab their first win in front of a supportive home crowd at Sabina Park.
It ended a three-game losing skid for the Kingsmen and handed the Knight Riders their first loss of the season.
The home side looked to be cruising to victory when McKenzie and opening partner Reeza Hendricks were bludgeoning the Knight Riders’ bowling to all parts of the ground during a 93-run opening stand in just seven overs.
They were only 10 after two overs, until McKenzie hit Akeal Hosein for a six and two fours in the third over that yielded 18 runs.
He followed up by smashing Narine for a six and four in the next over and left-arm pacer Nathan Edward for two boundaries in the fifth over that leaked 17 runs to move into the 40s and propel the Kingsmen to 57 without loss.
The pair then teamed up on pacer Terrance Hinds, clubbing him for two sixes and three fours in the next over that went for 25 runs, with McKenzie bringing up his half-century off 19 balls in the process.
But after hitting spinner Usman Tariq for a six over long off, McKenzie was bowled the next ball trying to hit him out of the ground. He hit six sixes and six fours during his entertaining knock.
His dismissal sparked a mini collapse that saw Tariq also claim the wickets of Shayan Jahangir for one and Hendricks for 37 off 29 balls, to see the Kingsmen slip to 126 for four in the 14th over.
However, with the run rate climbing, Powell and Russell settled the issue during a 48-run partnership off 21 balls that sealed the result.
With 54 needed from 30 balls, Russell milked 17 runs off the 17th over bowled by Hinds and then, together with Powell, belted the ensuing over bowled by Edwards for 28 runs.
Russell lost his wicket after scoring 27 off 15 balls with nine runs required, but Powell, who finished unbeaten on 29 off 22 balls and Hassan Khan carried their side to victory with eight balls to spare.
Tariq took 3-21 from his four overs for the Kingsmen.
Earlier, knocks of 44 from captain Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard helped the Knight Riders get up to their eventual total.
However, the visitors struggled early in their innings against the Kingsmen’s disciplined bowling attack and were 69 for two at the halfway stage.
Pooran and Pollard – both playing in their first game of the tournament after returning from representing the MI New York in the Major League Cricket – upped the ante during a 67-run partnership for the third wicket.
After they were dismissed, Jyd Goolie scored an unbeaten 14 off nine balls and Sunil Narine blasted an unbeaten 19 off eight balls to ensure they ended with a flourish.
CMC
Summarised scores
TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS 182-6 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 44, Kieron Pollard 44, Alex Hales 29, Sunil Narine 19 not out, Colin Munro 16, Jyd Goolie 14 not out; Hunain Shah 2-31, Andre Russell 2-34) vs JAMAICA KINGSMEN 183-5 in 18.4 overs (Kirk McKenzie 69, Reeza Hendricks 37, Rovman Powell 29 not out, Andre Russell 27, Keacy Carty 11; Usman Tariq 3-21).
Jamaica Kingsmen won by five wickets.
