30 August 2018
Johnson Charles stars as Jamaica Tallawahs rise to CPL summit with win over Barbados Tridents
By skysports
Johnson Charles' half-century helped Jamaica Tallawahs seal a comfortable five-wicket victory over Barbados Tridents to move top of the Caribbean Premier League.
Charles hit 53 runs from 33 balls as Jamaica successfully chased down 153 at Kensington Oval in Barbados with the hosts remaining second from bottom on four points.
The Tridents were restricted to 153-9 despite a 63-ball 77 from Martin Guptill, who was unable to build a substantial partnership until Imran Khan arrived at the crease.
By then, Barbados were five wickets down, as Hashim Amla, Shai Hope, Steve Smith, Jason Holder and Nicholas Pooran had all returned to the pavilion having notched single figures.
Former Australia captain Smith's form appears to have deserted him with his nine runs meaning he has totalled just 13 in his last three innings.
Guptill and Khan put together a 60-run stand before Ashley Nurse smashed two fours and one six to add 16 runs in the final over.
Jamaica's run-chase got off to the worst possible starts as Glenn Phillips was dismissed by Mohammad Irfan for just six, but Charles struck five fours and three sixes in an impressive stand alongside Kennar Lewis.
After Wahab Riaz had clean-bowled Charles, Rovman Powell scored an unbeaten 35 with important cameos from David Miller (14), Andre Russell (10) and Colin de Grandhomme (15 not out) as the Tallawahs strolled to victory in 17.2 overs.
