CPL Associate Watch, Day 2: Sandeep accurate, Kirton struggles in Tallawahs win

Jamaica Tallawahs feature the most Associate cricketers in CPL 2020 with three, and two of them were on display for Day Two. The overall results for the day were mixed, with Nepal’s Sandeep Lamichhane putting up typically strong numbers, and Canada’s Nicholas Kirton getting out after only 6 balls from the number three spot in Jamaica’s batting order.

Sandeep Lamichhane finished with very efficient figures of 23 runs from 4 overs and taking the wicket of Zouk’s Nijibullah Zadran in his fourth and final over. After being smashed for six early on by the Afghan batsman, Sandeep tempted him with a full delivery outside off stump, and Zadran tried to smash him through cow corner. Captain Rovman Powell and Asif Ali converged and collided, but Powell held on for the catch to stop the lefty for 25 off 21.

Sandeep nearly took the wicket of in-form Roston Chase in his second over with what looked like a 50/50 chance for an LBW. A perfectly placed googly had Chase stretching forward to defend his off stump but struck the middle of his front pad, heading towards leg stump. The umpire was unmoved by the enthusiastic appeal by the spinner and his keeper Chadwick Walton. Chase would go on to score a 50, but Sandeep’s tidy spell helped hold the Zouks to 157/8.

Jamaica’s batting got off to a painfully slow start, and Nicholas Kirton – selected in the CPL as a local player due to his Barbadian citizenship – entered at number 3 in the third over with Jamaica 5/1. Kirton quickly found himself pinned by left arm fast-medium bowler Obed McCoy, unable to put bat on any of the first four balls. The Canadian lefty then hit Mohammad Nabi hard back over his head for a single, but that would be his only ball against the Afghan off spinner before facing New Zealand fast-medium bowler Scott Kuggleijn to start the 4th over. Bowling from over the wicket, Kuggleijn missed with his first delivery, wide and full outside leg stump, but struck on the next ball. Quick, back of length, and on the same wide line, Kirton couldn’t lay off and threw his hands at the shoulder-height ball. Zouk’s Mark Deyal made a highlight reel catch just outside of the circle at backward square, and it was curtains for Kirton, who finished for 1 run off of 6 balls. Jamaica would recover from the slow start and chase down the target with 7 balls to spare.

If you’re a fan of associate cricket, Jamaica Tallawahs could be a great team to follow in this tournament, as it’s reasonable to expect teams to utilize their depth when playing 10 games over a 3 week stretch. Either way, stay tuned and we’ll keep you updated on all CPL Associate cricketers!

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