McCullum fireworks lifts TKR to sixth straight win

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC – Brendon McCullum smashed a scintillating half-century as Trinbago Knight Riders trounced Jamaica Tallawahs by 36 runs to rattle off their sixth straight win in the Caribbean Premier League here Saturday night.
Sent in at Sabina Park, the visitors stormed to 208 for six off their 20 overs with New Zealander McCullum top-scoring with 91 off 62 balls and Colin Munro striking 42 from 24 deliveries.
Seamers Rovman Powell (2-38) and Krishmar Santokie (2-49) claimed a brace of wickets each.
In reply, captain Kumar Sangakkara stroked 53 – his second straight half-century – but Tallawahs came up short at 172 for seven off their 20 overs.
Lendl Simmons chipped in with 32, Powell got 30 while seamer Javon Searles claimed three for 27.
With just one game left, TKR top the standings on 16 points and can now focus on the playoffs as they now guaranteed to finish in the top position, regardless of the results in the remaining games.
Tallawahs, meanwhile, continue third on 10 points, just one behind second placed St Kitts and Nevis Patriots but four clear of the fourth placed Guyana Amazon Warriors.
TKR had a less than impressive start when Sunil Narine perished off the first ball of the innings, mis-hitting a low Santokie full toss to mid-off.
However, McCullum took charge of the innings, belting five fours and six sixes as he provided the energy for two successive half-century stands.
He put on 92 for the second wicket with Munro who struck two fours and three sixes in a 24-ball cameo, before added a further 63 for the third with Bravo who counted a four and three sixes in 13-ball thriller.
With a century in sight, McCullum holed out in the penultimate over off seamer Kesrick Williams.
Tallawahs had a similarly poor start when Glenn Phillips was stumped down the leg-side in the first over without scoring with two runs on the board but the left-handed Sangakkara then revived the innings, posting 85 for the second wicket with Simmons who smashed a four and three sixes off 19 deliveries.
He struck six fours and two sixes but was one of three wickets which fell for 29 runs, however, to leave Tallawahs on 116 for four in the 13th over.
Powell and Mahmudullah (6) added 33 for the fifth but the target was already out of reach.