Jamaica Tallawahs claimed their third Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title after Brandon King’s majestic half-century and Fabian Allen’s magical spell powered them to an eight-wicket win over highly fancied Barbados Royals at Providence Stadium in Guyana late on Friday.

The 27-year-old Jamaican all-rounder Allen took the player of the match award after snaring 3-24 to help restrict the Royals to 161-7 after they had got off to a flying start.

His compatriot King, also 27, oozed pure class while top-scoring with 83 not out in the Tallawahs’ 162-2. The opening batsman emphatically hit the winning six down the ground off the Royals’ left-arm pacer Obed McCoy to send his teammates running onto the field in celebration.

Scores: Royals 161-7 (20 overs); Tallawahs 162-2 (16.1 overs).

The victory capped off a magnificent 2022 CPL campaign for King, who compiled 422 runs in the Tallawahs’ rampaging march to the title.

In 2019 the elegant batsman had scored 496 runs in guiding Guyana Amazon Warriors to second place, but he was over the moon on Friday that the Tallawahs went one better than his previous team.

“This one means more because we won the title. I’m just extremely happy we won this year. The team is amazing… everybody trusted each other,” King said during a post-match television interview.

Royals Captain Kyle Mayers, who rued his team did not post a bigger total, said it was a “brilliant season” despite the outcome.

“It is a tough pill to swallow. We did well all season, only losing three games,” Mayers added.

Earlier, the former two-time champions Royals (formerly Barbados Tridents) won the toss and opted to bat first on a festive night in Guyana, though the hosts Amazon Warriors were not featuring in the showpiece contest.

The Royals were off to a lively 63-run start thanks to openers Rahkeem Cornwall (36) and Mayers (29). Azam Khan hit a top score of 51 to maintain the momentum.

But the Tallawahs’ left-arm finger spinners Allen and Imad Wasim (1-18) along with pacer Nicholson Gordon (3-33) slowed their progress and ensured the target was a very gettable one.

Though the Royals did not amass a really big score, the 162-run target was still more than any team had successfully chased in a CPL final.

However, King and number three batsman Shamarh Brooks (47) steadied the Tallawahs in a second-wicket, 86-run stand — after the loss of Kennar Lewis in the opening over — to ensure the Jamaican franchise achieved victory in style.