Knight Riders stumble to four-wicket loss

A dramatic batting collapse saw the Knight Riders fall to a four-wicket defeat against Jamaica Tallawahs at the same venue, on Wednesday night.The Knight Riders batting first were well poised for a score in the vicinity of 200 as they raced to 106 runs for two wickets after nine overs. However, Knight Riders then lost eight wickets for 38 runs as they slumped from 109/2 to 147 all out in 19.5 overs.

In reply, Tallawahs chased the target relatively comfortably as they got to 148/6 in 19.2 overs.

Tallawahs captain Kumar Sangakkara, who topscored with 47, was pleased to be among the runs.

However, he said the most pleasing moment was the Tallawahs fight back after Knight Riders got off to a flying start with the bat.

“I was pretty happy to get some runs. It would have been nice to bat until the end,” Sangakkara said.

“I think the real crucial time for us was that we held our nerve when the Knight Riders really went hard at us in the first nine overs.” Colin Munro topscored for the Knight Riders with 41 off 25 balls with five fours and two sixes, while Darren Bravo scored 33 off 25 deliveries with two fours and two sixes.

Bowling for the Tallawahs, Odean Smith snatched 3/20 in 3.5 overs, Man of the Match Kesrick Williams took 3/26 in four overs, Krishmar Santokie had 2/30 in four overs and Mohammed Sami grabbed 1/22 in four overs.

Sangakkara said, “To come back and bowl 12 overs for 46 runs it is just an unbelievable effort. It does not happen very often in T20 cricket but all credit to the bowlers, especially Odean coming in for his debut for us.” Smith was a member of the West Indies team that won the ICC Under- 19 World Cup last year. “Kesrick, Sami and off course Santokie after the punishment he took, came back amazingly well so in all credit to them,” Sangakkara said.

Sangakkara, who faced 41 deliveries and struck seven fours, shared in a 61-run opening partnership with Lendl Simmons to set up the victory. Simmons struck four fours and three sixes in his knock of 38 off 18 balls.

Bowling for Knight Riders Sunil Narine took 2/21 in four overs and Kevon Cooper got 2/25 in 3.2 overs but it was not enough.

Despite the loss, Knight Riders are still in first position on the sixteam standings with four points after two wins and a loss.

The Barbados Tridents had a chance to move into first place if they defeated St Lucia Stars convincingly last night in St Lucia.