Rovman Powell, the Jamaica Kingsmen captain, says it was “massive” getting two points off hosts Trinbago Knight Riders in the rain-affected Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 match late on Saturday.

The Kingsmen defeated the Trinidad and Tobago-based franchise by seven runs via the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain.

“As a young team, we decided at the start that we’re going to give guys opportunities. It’s not a case of them playing one game, bowling one or two bad overs, and then getting change.”

“At the start of my career as a youngster, I was given opportunities, so as a captain, I will try my best to give these youngsters the opportunity also,” Powell said in a televised interview after the game.

POWELL… when you come to Trinidad, you get a bit of dew, so it’s always better to chase

Sent in to bat, Trinbago Knight Riders posted 180-6 from 20 overs behind a fluent 101-run opening stand between Sunil Narine (53) and Colin Munro (52). Captain Nicholas Pooran then finished unbeaten on 60 off 37 balls with five fours and three sixes to lift the hosts.

But it was Vitel Lawes who changed the game. The young spinner produced a maiden over in which he claimed three wickets, removing Munro, Kieron Pollard (0), and Matthew Tromp (0), to put the brakes on the Knight Riders. Lawes finished with 3-29 from four overs, while Hunain Shah chipped in with 2-27 from his four.

In reply, Jamaica got off to a shaky start at 18-1 after Maaz Sadaqat fell for 12 at the end of the second over. Keacy Carty (42) and Kirk McKenzie (30) steadied with a 50-run, second-wicket stand before rain first stopped play with the Kingsmen 74-2 in 8.4 overs.

When play resumed, Carty and Saim Ayub (24) added 52 for the third wicket. Usman Tariq then broke through to leave Jamaica 120-3 in the 14th over. Powell (5) joined Ayub at the crease and the pair pushed the total past the DLS par before rain returned for the final time with Jamaica on 127-3 — 7 runs ahead of the par score of 120.

Vitel Lawes of Jamaica Kingsmen celebrates taking the wicket of Trinbago Knight Riders batsman Kieron Pollard during the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League T20 match at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, on Saturday. Photos: CPL T20

Powell said the decision to bowl first had nothing to do with weather.

“But we weren’t preparing for rain, to be honest. We just thought the wicket was a good one, and when you come to Trinidad, you get a bit of dew, so it’s always better to chase. That’s what made our decision – it wasn’t a factor of rain,” he explained.

Powell also spoke on the batting order shuffle that saw Ayub come in at number three.

“It’s just down to the matchup against the Trinidadian bowlers. It’s the first time we find ourselves with so many left-handers at the top. We’re trying to mix and match to keep a left-hand, right-hand combination and see how well it works for us. We’re trying our best to keep Akeal Hosein out of the game and bring Sunil Narine to come on early to bowl to those left-handers,” Powell said.

Nicholas Pooran of Trinbago Knight Riders bats during the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League T20 match versus Jamaica Kingsmen at Queen’s Park Oval.

The win moves Jamaica up the table in second place and sets up a crucial clash with Guyana next.

“It’s massive. We started out knowing that if we are going to progress far in this competition, you have to beat teams like Trinidad and Guyana. They have been the frontrunners for some time in the CPL, so it’s massive, especially to come to Trinidad and get two points,” Powell said.

“Now we look ahead to the Guyana game, which becomes an even more important fixture for us. It also gives Andre Russell a bit more time to recover and come back,” Powell added.

The Kingsmen will are to face Guyana Amazon Warriors on September 4 in Providence.