Execution will be key — Powell

ENTERPRISING ALL-ROUNDER Rovman Powell says execution was the order of the day for him against Trinidad and Tobago Red Force in the semi-finals of the WICB Regional Super50 Tournament and come today, he hopes to replicate this against Barbados Pride in the final at the Coolidge Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda.

A revelation for Jamaica over the past two seasons, the 23-year-old Powell smashed a whirlwind career-best 95 off a mere 45 balls, and claimed a career-best five for 36 off eight overs to help guide Jamaica to a record-breaking 292 runs win over the dethroned champions.

The Scorpions batted first and made 434 for four before dismissing Trinidad for 142.

PLATFORM LAID

“The platform was laid for a person like me with a little bit of power,” said Powell. “What I did therefore was to just take a few balls first and get going, and then after get going I could explode and go big.”

Entering the fray with the Scorpions wellplaced at 269 for two in the 36th over on the back of a record-equaling opening wicket stand of 174 between Chadwick Walton and Steven Taylor, and joining the then on-the-go Jermaine Blackwood, Powell went on to slam nine sixes and six fours in his electrifying act.

The recent West Indies one-day debutant then returned to bowl with accuracy and variation to bamboozle the Red Force.

The 31-year-old Walton topscored with 117, Taylor got 88, and Blackwood, an unbeaten 108.

“The wicket kind of suited me,” he said of his bowling.” It was a not a fast wicket, and once the wicket is not fast, medium pacers, who bowl a lot of cutters and use their fingers on the ball can get a lot of assistance. I,therefore, just went out there to execute.

He added: “I also would like to do same in the final, as the team is peaking at the moment, and I would like us to return home with the trophy.’’

The final is set for a 12:30 p.m. Jamaica time start, and is scheduled to be aired on cable television network, ESPN.