The Trinidad & Tobago Red Force are champions of the CG United Super50 Cup for the 14th time after a dominant seven-wicket win over the Leeward Islands Hurricanes in the final at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on Saturday.
The Leewards posted a subpar 135 all out from 41.5 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat. Important to note, the match was eventually reduced to 43 overs per side after a pair of rain delays during the Hurricanes innings.
The Leewards, who have depended heavily on the opening partnership of Kieran Powell and Justin Greaves, lost them both in quick time due to a poor shot and bad luck.
Powell was bowled all ends up by Shannon Gabriel for just eight in the fourth over before, just two overs later, Greaves, who entered this final on the back of four 50-plus scores in a row, was forced to retire hurt on 11 after suffering a hamstring injury while running a single.
This brought Keacy Carty and Jahmar Hamilton together in the middle and the pair brought the score to 40 in the 13th over before Carty played an ill-advised slash at a ball outside the off stump which produced an edge that wicket-keeper Joshua Da Silva gladly snatched up off the bowling of Terrance Hinds for 12.
Things could have gotten even worse for the Leewards as Hamilton was dropped on two occasions in quick succession, first by Nicholas Pooran off the bowling of Sunil Narine in the 14th over then in the very next over by Akeal Hosein off the bowling of Terrance Hinds.
The Red Force didn’t have to wait too long for their next wicket, however, as in that same 14th over, Narine had Terrence Warde trapped in front for a duck.
It was soon 43-4 as Narine dismissed Rakheem Cornwall in a similar fashion. Hamilton and Kofi James then put together a 27-run fifth wicket partnership before James became Khary Pierre’s first victim for seven.
Hayden Walsh Jr was next to go for 20 to leave the Hurricanes 116-6 in the 36th over. Captain Alzarri Joseph then came and went for 2 one over later to leave the score at 121-7.
Greaves then attempted to continue his innings and added just one run to his total before being the eighth wicket to fall, going caught off the bowling of Akeal Hosein for 12.
Hamilton was the ninth wicket to fall for a well-made top score of 62 from 102 balls, his fourth fifty of the tournament. His knock included just three fours and a six.
Daniel Doram was last to go for 5.
Narine, playing his last ever List A game, took 3-17 from nine overs while Terrance Hinds continued his excellent form this season with 3-16 from seven overs.
Narine ended the season as the tournament’s joint-leading wicket taker with 20. He also took home the Gus Logie Award as the tournament's best fielder with nine catches.
The Red Force then started their chase with a revised target of 138 from 43 overs.
Kjorn Ottley and Joshua Da Silva put on 45 for the first wicket before Da Silva fell in the ninth over for a run-a-ball 28.
Ottley was then joined by skipper Darren Bravo and the pair put on a further 39 before Ottley was dismissed for 23 in the 17th over.
Bravo, who finished the tournament as the highest run-scorer with 416 runs at an average of 83, was next to go for a top score of 40.
Nicholas Pooran and Jason Mohammed then guided the Red Force to 141-3 after 23.4 overs.
Pooran finished 39* off just 20 balls and brought up the victory with three consecutive sixes off the bowling of Alzarri Joseph.
Hayden Walsh Jr picked up 2-19 from four overs for the Hurricanes. He ended the season with 20 wickets, tied with Sunil Narine as the highest wicket taker for the tournament. He was also name as the tournament's best all rounder.
Shai Hope took home the award for best wicket-keeper.
Final Scores: Leeward Islands Hurricanes 135 off 41.5 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 62, Terrance Hinds 3-16, Sunil Narine 3-17) Trinidad & Tobago Red Force 141-3 off 23.4 overs (Darren Bravo 40, Nicholas Pooran 39*, Joshua Da Silva 28, Hayden Walsh Jr 2-19)
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Russell defends CPL's contribution to regional cricket but open to suggestions on improvements
With their long-term agreement with Cricket West Indies (CWI) heavily scrutinised by government leaders and cricket stalwarts, chief executive, Pete Russell of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) defended the product’s positive contribution to cricket in the region.
Addressing the gathering on Friday’s final day of the CARICOM conference on West Indies cricket themed ‘Reinvigorating West Indies Cricket’, Russell said the CPL is one of CWI’s largest domestic commercial partners.
While noting that CPL contributed significantly to player economic welfare, with nearly US$28 million spent on salaries since the start of the tournament in 2013, Russell, also revealed that cumulative losses, across both the league and franchises for the past 11 years, stand at US$40 million.
“Dennis O’Brien and Digicel have been the principal investors, not only investing in the league from day one but they also spent money on sponsorship and media rights. The franchises have also pumped in significant money, money that helps pay players and coaches, as well as investing in local businesses around the region that help make the games happen. All the franchises have made losses.
“So, on the positive side, Cricket West Indies has been paid close to US$17 million in sanction fees, so over the past 12 years CPL would be one of CWI’s largest domestic, commercial partners. Caribbean players have taken home US$27.7 million in player salaries since the tournament’s inception, all paid for by the franchises,” Russell declared during the event held in Trinidad and Tobago.
“Each year, it takes US$25 million to run this tournament over five weeks. CPL and the franchises bear all these costs. There is no financial burden on CWI or the territorial boards, so the risk is 100 per cent ours.
“So that is our starting point each and every year. So as you can imagine, the commercial challenges are considerable just to break even,” he added.
Russell’s response came as government leaders and West Indies legend Sir Clive Lloyd, suggested that the 50-year contract between CPL and CWI be re-negotiated.
The issue of the league’s ownership was also called into question, as they view was largely expressed that there would potentially be more development and earnings for players, if CWI controlled the tournament.
But, Russell, a member of the CPL management team rebutted.
“What is interesting is that other leagues around the world are following the lead of CWI. They are also looking for third-party investors to help fund their leagues. The English Cricket Board are in the process of selling The Hundred, the Australian Cricket Board are courting outside investors for the Big Bash, Cricket South Africa sold all their rights to host broadcaster Supersport, and the new American Major League Cricket is 100 per cent privately owned,” Russell shared.
“In time, only the IPL will end up being 100 per cent owned by its domestic board and that is simply because they can afford to do so. So, trust me when I say, ownership isn’t everything, and smart stewardship and partnership can yield better results. But of course, we’re always happy to listen to any suggestions on how we can improve things,” he ended.
IPL: Royals extend lead at the top after Samson and Jurel see off LSG
Sanju Samson and Dhruv Jurel combined for an unbeaten partnership of 121 as Indian Premier League leaders Rajasthan Royals defeated Lucknow Super Giants on Saturday.
The Royals have now won eight of their nine matches in the 2024 campaign and are almost certain to be involved in the playoffs after chasing down their victory target of 197 with an over to spare in a seven-wicket triumph.
Another Royals win had looked unlikely when they fell to 78-3 in their run chase after Jos Buttler (34), Yashasvi Jaiswal (24) and Riyan Parag (14) all fell in quick succession shortly before the halfway mark.
But Rajasthan captain Samson fought back as he blasted 71 runs from 33 balls including seven fours and four maximums, while Jurel bounced back from a poor period of form to finish unbeaten on 52 from 34.
LSG reached 196-5 from their innings courtesy of a fine knock from their own skipper, KL Rahul. He reached 76 from 48 before eventually falling to Avesh Khan (1-42) in the 18th over.
Deepak Hooda made it to 50 as LSG rallied from 11-2, but ultimately their competitive total was within reach of the visiting Royals.
Data Debrief
This is the second time in as many home games Rahul has passed fifty, after he scored 82 against Chennai Super Kings last week.
Samson (385) and Rahul (378) are second and third respectively in the race to win this season’s orange cap, although RCB’s Virat Kohli continues to set the pace with 430 runs.
They also narrowly trail Kohli (40) when it comes to the most fours hit in this season’s competition, with Samson on 36 and Rahul just behind with 34.
Babar's captain's innings leads Pakistan to victory as series drawn with New Zealand
Babar Azam top scored as he led his Pakistan team to a nine-run victory over New Zealand in Lahore that saw the five-game T20I series end in a draw.
Babar hit 69 runs off 44 balls before being bowled by Ben Sears, smashing six fours and two sixes to take his team to 123/3 at the time of his dismissal.
Fakhar Zaman (43 from 33) and Usman Khan (31 off 24) also chipped in with important innings as Pakistan ended on 178/5.
With a target of 179 to secure a 3-1 series victory, New Zealand's run chase faltered almost immediately as opener Tom Blundell was removed within the first over with his team having managed just five runs on the board.
Blundell's fellow opener Tim Seifert steadied the ship with a vital 52-run innings off 33 deliveries before being bowled by Usama Mir, but Shaheen Shah Afridi led the way for Pakistan, finishing with figures of 4-30 to stem the New Zealand run chase
Josh Clarkson's 38 off 26 set up a nervy conclusion, but Pakistan held on to avoid defeat in the T20 series as the teams share the spoils at two wins apiece after the first game was abandoned.
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