TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC) — The Trinidad and Tobago Legions created history on Saturday by capturing the inaugural West Indies Breakout League with an exciting 17-run win over the Leeward Islands Thunder.

In a thrilling finale at Brian Lara Cricket Academy, the home side posted 181 for five in their 20 overs, after being sent in to bat.

The visitors then made a spirited effort to reach their target but fell just short, finishing on 164 for nine at the end of their allotted 20 overs.

Legions opener Kamil Pooran proved to be the hero, smashing 73 from 44 balls with seven fours and four sixes to hold the innings together, after the Thunder threatened to take control of the contest.

He added 52 runs for the first wicket with Amir Jangoo, who struck 23 from 17 balls, to give the Legions a solid start.

Thunder Captain Karima Gore broke the partnership by dismissing Jangoo but Pooran continued to attack during a 30-run stand with Navin Bidaisee.

But from a dominant position of 82 for one in the 10th over, the Legions lost three wickets for the addition of just one run to hand the momentum to the Thunder.

Leg spinner Micah McKenzie claimed the wickets of Bidaisee for five and Jyd Goolie for a duck, while Gore trapped Crystian Thurton lbw for a duck.

Pooran then added 39 crucial runs with Captain Joshua Da Silva before he was dismissed by Anderson Mahase to leave the score 122 for five at the start of the 15th over.

Skipper Da Silva, along with Joshua James, then bludgeoned 59 runs from the last five overs to get their side up to a competitive total.

Da Silva finished unbeaten on 40 from 31 balls with four fours and one six, while James was not out on 26 off 16 deliveries, inclusive of two sixes and one four.

Gore took 2-22 with his left-arm spin and McKenzie grabbed 2-29.

The Thunder’s run chase got off to a blazing start, with openers Jamie Cornelius and Kofi James plundering 57 runs inside five overs.

However, when Cornelius was dismissed by fast bowler McKenny Clarke for 11 it sparked a sudden collapse which put the Legions in control of the match.

Bidaisee had Jewel Andrew caught for 14, bowled Mikyle Louis for one, and Goolie dismissed Gore for just five, to see the Thunder slump to 89 for four in the 10th over.

James remained unfazed by the loss of wickets around him and continued his counter-attacking innings, eventually reaching his half-century.

But just when it looked as though he would carry his side to victory he was dismissed by Goolie for the top score of 63 off 36 deliveries, as the Thunder slid to 102 for five.

His dismissal effectively ended the Thunder’s hopes of victory, and despite a fighting effort from their lower order they could not keep up with the ever-increasing run rate and unltimately fell short of their target.

Goolie ended with 3-13, Clarke snared 3-34, while Bidaisee took 2-27.