CAPTAIN Rovman Powell says the Kingsmen will need to lift their game in every department as they turn the page to Saturday’s crucial clash versus Trinbago Knight Riders, after the Jamaica franchise slumped to a third Caribbean Premier League (CPL) defeat with a six-wicket loss to Guyana Amazon Warriors at Sabina Park on Thursday.

“Obviously if you’re 0-3 down and you’re going to play such a strong Trinidad team it’s always an uphill task, you know,” Powell said in a post-match interview.

“But, as I keep on saying, it’s just for us as players to spend some time together and just work on those areas. I think all three areas need a little bit of touching up. If us as individuals can be 10-15 per cent better, then I think we can collectively put it together as a team,” he added.

Jamaica Kingsmen’s Jediah Blades celebrates taking the wicket of Mavendra Dindyal of Guyana Amazon Warriors on Thursday. Photo: Naphtali Junior

Sent in to bat, Jamaica Kingsmen were bowled out for 117 in 19.4 overs. Reeza Hendricks made 40 from 38 balls with two fours and two sixes. Powell contributed 24 runs, Kirk McKenzie 16, and Vitel Lawes 14 runs, but no other batter reached double figures.

Mohammad Nabi did the damage with both bat and ball for Guyana Amazon Warriors. He took 4 for 22 from 4 overs, then returned to make 19 from 15 as the visitors cruised to 118-4 in 14.1 overs.

Shai Hope top-scored with an unbeaten 56 from 41 balls, including two fours and four sixes, and Glenn Phillips added 28 from 17 at the top. Andre Russell was Jamaica’s best with two for 12 from two overs, while Nabi was named Player of the Match.

Guyana Amazon Warriors wicketkeeper Shai Hope (left) reacts as Hunain Shah of Jamaica Kingsmen is bowled by Mohammad Nabi (out of picture) on Thursday. Photo: Naphtali Junior

Powell was blunt about the performance in front of the home crowd.

“It is disappointing when the people come out and support us and we haven’t turned up. But, a lot of credits have to be given to Guyana; I think they found their lines and lengths as a bowling group early. And it’s just for us to lift our heads up, you know? Nobody is going to come into the dressing room and lift our heads up for us,” Powell said.

The Kingsmen captain pointed to consistency as the missing piece.

Andre Russell (centre) of Jamaica Kingsmen hits the ball back to Mohammad Nabi (right) of Guyana Amazon Warriors to be caught and bowled during the Caribbean Premier League cricket match at Sabina Park on Thursday. Also pictured is Amazon Warriors wicketkeeper Shai Hope. Photo: Naphtali Junior

“I think we’re playing cricket in patches. The guys are still a little bit lackadaisical, you know; they are not 100 per cent in. If you should look on the fielding, a lot of simple errors [were made], and that goes into the batting and it goes into the bowling.

“It’s for us as a group to be a bit more consistent, you know? When we get partnerships with our batters, it’s not long enough, it’s not big enough. And when we approach it as a bowling group, we’re not bowling good overs,” Powell explained.

Batting has been a particular concern. After getting starts in back-to-back games, Powell knows he has to go bigger.

Guyana Amazon Warriors batsman Shai Hope strikes the ball during his unbeaten knock of 56 against Jamaica Kingsmen at Sabina Park on Thursday. Photo: Naphtali Junior

“That’s something that I will look on tonight,” he said of his own dismissal in the 20s.

“But if we’re 50, 60 runs in 10 or 15 overs, the game is going nowhere. Somebody has to sometimes hold the bull by the horn, and that’s what I tried. Hopefully, over the 24 hours I will sit down and come up with a better batting plan,” he said.

There are positives to take into the Trinidad and Tobago match, and Powell highlighted Russell’s bowling, Lawes’ emergence, and some runs for Hendricks.

POWELL… I think we can collectively put it together as a team Photo: CPL/Jamaica Kingsmen

Jamaica Kingsmen captain Rovman Powell (centre) talks in a team huddle during the Caribbean Premier League match against Guyana Amazon Warriors at Sabina Park on Thursday. Photo: Naphtali Junior

“Obviously the first game at home, the guys fought. You know, Andre Russell played well, young Vitel Lawes played well also. He’s a young talent, still young and inexperienced, but he’s coming into his own. He showed glimpses of what he can do in the first few games. It’s good to see one of our overseas batters, Hendricks, get some runs under his belt. You know, that should go well for us in the next game,” Powell stated.

With a young squad still adjusting to CPL cricket at Sabina, Powell asked fans to stay with the team.

“It’s a team with a lot of youngsters. CPL cricketers haven’t played at Sabina Park, the franchise haven’t been at Sabina Park for quite a time and so, therefore, the talent pool [has] kind of dwindled down. A lot of guys haven’t played CPL before now and so it’s a young team. It’s for you guys, as fans, to keep on supporting us. I’m sure we’ll turn it around,” Powell ended.