Kingsmen roar into Qualifier Two behind Sadaqat’s historic 112
Key Points(5)
- Maaz Sadaqat delivered a stunning statement of intent on Wednesday night, smashing a record-breaking century to propel the Jamaica Kingsmen into Qualifier Two of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
- The 21-year-old Pakistan opener produced a breathtaking 112 as the Kingsmen demolished the Barbados Tridents by nine wickets at Kensington Oval, chasing down 145 with six overs to spare.
- The emphatic victory, their most commanding performance of the season, kept Jamaica’s championship ambitions firmly alive.
- Sadaqat turns eliminator into rout Sadaqat seized control almost immediately, attacking the Tridents from the opening over and never allowing their bowlers to settle.
- He raced to his first CPL half-century of the season from only 22 balls before completing his maiden T20 century in precisely 44 deliveries.
Maaz Sadaqat delivered a stunning statement of intent on Wednesday night, smashing a record-breaking century to propel the Jamaica Kingsmen into Qualifier Two of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The 21-year-old Pakistan opener produced a breathtaking 112 as the Kingsmen demolished the Barbados Tridents by nine wickets at Kensington Oval, chasing down 145 with six overs to spare.
The emphatic victory, their most commanding performance of the season, kept Jamaica’s championship ambitions firmly alive.
Sadaqat turns eliminator into rout
Sadaqat seized control almost immediately, attacking the Tridents from the opening over and never allowing their bowlers to settle.
He raced to his first CPL half-century of the season from only 22 balls before completing his maiden T20 century in precisely 44 deliveries.
His record-setting innings contained eight fours and seven sixes, making him the youngest player to score a CPL century.
With Kirk McKenzie providing support at the other end, Sadaqat helped the Kingsmen thunder to 79 without loss at the end of the power play.
McKenzie remained unbeaten on 22 as the Kingsmen completed their pursuit at 145 for one in only 14 overs.
Tridents collapse, then recover
The chase looked even more imposing after the Kingsmen’s bowlers ripped through the Tridents’ top order.
Brandon King and Kevlon Anderson disappeared inside the first two overs, and the Tridents were reduced to 10 for three before reaching 24 for four at the end of the power play.
With Kensington Oval suddenly subdued, Quinton de Kock and captain Chris Green mounted a remarkable recovery.
De Kock, the tournament’s leading run-scorer, initially absorbed the pressure before accelerating alongside Green, with the pair adding 114 for the fifth wicket.
They produced 95 runs during the second half of the innings to transform what had been a precarious position into a competitive total.
De Kock fell on the final delivery after making another impressive 71, while Green carried his bat for an unbeaten 57.
The Tridents eventually closed on 144 for six from their 20 overs.
Andre Russell claimed two wickets for 36 runs, although he was forced to leave the field after limping off before completing his final over.
Powell salutes team execution
Kingsmen captain Rovman Powell said the comprehensive victory reflected a plan the team had discussed before taking the field.
“It was very special,” Powell said. “It’s something we sat down as a team and discussed. If our top two, top three batters can give us a very good start, a very good platform, then it allows me, Andre (Russell), Hassan (Khan), and those power hitters, with a platform being laid, to come out and express ourselves a little bit more.”
Powell was equally pleased with the bowling effort, particularly the early damage inflicted on the Tridents.
“At the halfway stage, we were very, very pleased. If at the start of the day you had given us 144 to chase, we would have taken it. And I have said that, even though they were four wickets down in the power play, credit has to be given to ‘Quinny’ and their captain, Chris Green, and I think they batted really well.”
Jamaica’s rally continues
The result extended the Kingsmen’s postseason run and embodied the spirit of the Jamaican saying, “Little but we Tallawah.”
More importantly, it sent the Kingsmen through to Qualifier Two, where they will meet the loser of the Guyana Amazon Warriors-Falcons contest.
A place in Sunday’s final will be at stake, but after Sadaqat’s record-setting assault and a dominant all-round display against the Tridents, the Kingsmen have given themselves another opportunity to chase CPL glory.
