BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — Chris Gayle’s half-century headlined Jamaica Tallawah’s five-run victory over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, to send the hosts tumbling to their second defeat in three days in the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) here yesterday.

The superstar opener stroked a top score of 51 off 36 deliveries as Tallawahs, sent in at Warner Park, finished on 153 for seven off their 20 overs.

All-rounder Andre Russell arrived late to smash an unbeaten 34 from 20 balls, while Sri Lankan stroke-maker Kumar Sangakkara chipped in with 26 from 21 balls.

Opener Lendl Simmons then hit a run-a-ball 29, while Captain Faf du Plessis and Jonathan Carter both scored 27 as Patriots got up to 94 for two in the 13th over at one stage.

But unheralded seamer Kesrick Williams, who finished with three for 23, triggered a slide which saw five wickets fall for 25 runs as Patriots staggered to 119 for seven in the 19th over.

Patriots started the final over needing an improbable 30 runs to win, and Devon Thomas sent shockwaves through the Tallawahs camp when he blasted 22 runs off the first five deliveries from fast bowler Timroy Allen — including three consecutive sixes.

However, the damage had already been done, and Allen saw out the over safely without the drama of a no-ball to get Jamaica over the line.

Thomas finished unbeaten on 25 from a mere seven balls.

Earlier, Tallawahs lost Chadwick Walton in the first over for three with four runs on the board, lbw to a full-length delivery from left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie.

The left-handed Gayle then added 48 for the second wicket with Sangakkara before posting another 22 for the third wicket with Rovman Powell, who made just four.

Gayle struck four fours and three sixes — two of which came in the eighth over from West Indies leg-spinner Samuel Badree — as he tried to accelerate the tempo.

Sangakkara counted four fours before being run out in the seventh over, and Powell never found his touch and was caught by Badree running back from slip, off left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi in the 10th over.

Shakib Al Hasan perished for seven in the 14th over at 93 for four and Gayle finally departed in the 16th over when he scooped Thisara Perera to Badree at short third man.

The innings then belonged to Russell who belted two fours and three sixes — two coming off Santokie in the 17th over which went for 18 runs — as Tallawahs finished strongly.

In reply, Patriots lost Evin Lewis cheaply for eight at 12 for one in the second over from Williams, before du Plessis anchored two stands to revive the innings.

The South African struck a four and a six and put on 39 for the second wicket with Simmons before adding a further 43 for the third wicket with Carter.

Simmons blasted two fours and two sixes and looked to be teeing off when he was bowled by left-arm spinner Imad Wasim in the eighth over, and Carter struck a four and two sixes in his 18-ball cameo before advancing down to Shakib, missing his stroke and finding himself stumped.

His dismissal triggered a slide and Patriots never recovered.

Scoreboard

TALLAWAHS

C Walton lbw b Santokie 3

*C Gayle c Badree b Perera 51

+K Sangakkara run out 26

R Powell c Badree b Shamsi 4

Shakib Al Hasan c Carter b Shamsi 7

A Russell not out 34

Imad Wasim run out 19

T Allen b Perera 0

D Steyn not out 1

Extras (lb2, w6) 8

TOTAL (7 wkts, 20 overs) 153

Did not bat: K Williams, J Jaggesar.

Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-52, 3-74, 4-93, 5-107, 6-152, 7-152.

Bowling: Santokie 4-0-42-1, Perera 4-0-28-2 (w2), Brathwaite 4-0-28-0 (w1), Shamsi 4-0-17-2 (w2), Badree 2-0-21-0, Carter 2-0-15-0.

PATRIOTS

L Simmons b Imad Wasim 29

E Lewis c sub (N Bonner) b Williams 8

*F du Plessis c & b Jaggesar 27

J Carter st Sangakkara b Shakib Al Hasan 27

T Perera c Shakib Al Hasan b Williams 7

B Hodge b Williams 12

C Brathwaite b Steyn 1

+D Thomas not out 25

K Santokie not out 2

Extras (lb2, w6, nb2) 10

TOTAL (7 wkts, 20 overs) 148

Did not bat: S Badree, T Shamsi.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-51, 3-94, 4-98, 5-116, 6-119, 7-119.

Bowling: Steyn 4-0-21-1 (w4), Williams 4-0-23-3 (w2, nb2), Shakib al Hasan 4-0-25-1, Imad Wasim 2-0-21-1, Allen 3-0-38-0, Jaggesar 3-0-18-1.

Result: Tallawahs won by five runs.

Points: Tallawahs 2, Patriots 0.

Man-of-the-Match: Kesrick Williams.

Toss: Patriots.

Umpires: L Reifer, J Ward; TV – C Tuckett.