Patriots secure spot in the Semi-final as they beat Tallawahs by two wickets

Despite the daunting task, the Patriots were fired up. Without Evin Lewis, (Injury while Fielding – damaged a finger) Gayle and Devon Thomas opened the batting. Thomas struck three fours in his 13 from six deliveries, while Gayle could only manage 26 from 30.

With the odds stacked against them, Anton Devcich, delivered enterprising 50 off 23 deliveries; first batting with Rassi van der Dussen, 20 from 22, and then Fabian Allen, 23 from 10. They managed to score over 50 runs in just three of the 20 overs.

Brandon King also contributed 21 from just eight deliveries, striking three sixes in the innings.

It was still anybody’s game as Russell and Thomas bowled well enough to curb the rapid scoring. Thomas picked up some important wickets as he ended with figures of 3/43. Steven Jacobs bagged 1/31 in his four overs.

With 7 wickets down, Rovman Powell who had not bowled a ball all innings was tasked with stopping Ben Cutting and Carlos Brathwaite from scoring 15 runs in the final over.

A six by Brathwaite off the second delivery eased preasure off the patriots. However, next ball the big right-hander was caught on the boundary in stunning fashion by Russell.

Hayden Walsh came to crease but it would be Ben Cutting versus Powell.

The pressure mounted as Powell bowled a couple of deliveries well outside offstump at full length and had Cutting missing. Rattled by a wide called by the umpire, Powell followed up with three other wide deliveries.

Requiring just five runs off two balls, Powell then served up a length ball, which was struck well beyond the midwicket boundary for six with a ball still left to spare.

The Patriots will now face the Trinbago Knight Riders the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago.