Jamaica Tallawahs completed a five-wicket victory over the St Lucia Kings to book their passage to Qualifier Two of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in Guyana on Tuesday.
After winning the toss and opting to field first, the Tallawahs ripped through the Kings batting to restrict them to 125-9.
The Kings never adapted to the slow track and this was made harder when they ran into a Fabian Allen Playoff master class as the all-rounder led the way for the Tallawahs taking 4-25.
The Kings were always up against it from that moment and the Tallawahs duly wrapped up victory inside 18 overs having been given a great foundation by Captain Brandon King and Alex Hales.
The Kings had their moments with the ball while trying to defend a modest 126-run target, as Matthew Forde took a career-best 4-23 but that was as good as it got for the Kings.
Earlier, the Tallawahs had suffered an initial setback when they lost Mohammed Amir to injury three balls into the match but the remaining Tallawahs bowling attack made light of the absence of their talisman.
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Kings struggle to get going
Both Colin Munro and Johnson Charles fell inside the PowerPlay as the Kings innings struggled to get going with wickets falling outside the PowerPlay.
Chris Green picked up his second wicket to remove Bhanuka Rajapasa before Nicholson Gordon got in on the act. The fast bowler removed Shadrack Descarte for four to leave the Kings in trouble at 59-4 at the halfway stage of the innings.
Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals and when Fabian Allen removed Sikander Raza and Roston Chase in the 16th over, the Kings were all at sea. Allen added two more wickets in the 18th over to end a brilliant spell with 4-25.
Just when it appeared the Kings were on the brink of being bowled out Khary Pierre and Peter Hatzoglou got them up to 125 to give them something to bowl at.
In reply, the Tallawahs all but confirmed victory when King and Hales raced to 43 in the first four overs. King eventually fell for 30 and Hales for 24, but the damage was done.
The honour of seeing the Tallawahs home fell to Raymon Reifer who took the drama out of the chase with a sensibly constructed 30 not out.
The Tallawahs victory now means that they head to Qualifier 2 on Friday night against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, who lost by seven wickets to the Trinbago Knight Riders on Wednesday night.
