Old Harbour’s Rovman Powell captains Jamaica Tallawahs to third CPL T20 title

Barbados Royals had won the toss and chose to bat, with Rahkeem Cornwall and Kyle Mayers getting them off to a blistering start, combining to score 63 runs in the powerplay. However, Fabian Allen would remove both openers to bring the Tallawahs back into the game, before Azam Khan would continue his fine form with the bat to take the Royals to 161/7.

In response Brandon King and Shamarh Brooks would produce an 86-run partnership that frustrated the Royal’s bowling attack. Despite Jason Holder taking the wicket of Brooks, King would lead the rest of the chase as he scored a magnificent 83 runs from 50 balls to see the franchise win their third Hero CPL title.

• Barbados Royals 161/7

Khan 51, Cornwall 36
Allen 3/24 Gordon 3/33

• Jamaica Tallawahs 162/2

King 83*, Brooks 47
Mayers 1/14, Holder 1/14

RESULT: Jamaica Tallawahs won by 8 wickets

Barbados Royals had chosen to bat with the aim of setting an imposing total, Cornwall and Mayers combining well to build an excellent foundation. Once Allen had removed them both with his spin bowling, the run rate slowed down as the Tallawahs wrestled back control of the game. However, Khan, who came in at number three, would bat until the 19th over, scoring his second successive half century to help the Royals reach 161/7 after 20 overs.

Jamaica Tallawahs suffered an early setback in their chase as opener Kennar Lewis lost his wicket for a duck, but King and Brooks would rebuild at a steady run rate. Once Brooks lost his wicket in the eleventh over, King would shoulder the responsibility of finishing the chase, hitting fifteen  boundaries in total. In the end, King would take his side to victory with a six, sparking celebrations from Jamaica Tallawahs players, staff and fans.

Credit to Tallawahs captain Rovman Powell, a native of Bannister, Old Harbour, for lifting for the first time the CPL title as captain, a position he has held since 2020. The Jamaica 50-over skipper and West Indies T20 vice-captain, wasn’t among the main highlights in this impressive victory but cannot be overlooked for the way he pulled the strings behind the scenes in marshaling his troops.