Santokie hoping for better bowling conditions
Krishmar Santokie and the other bowlers for the Jamaica Tallawahs are hoping for more favourable bowling conditions when they take on the St Lucia Stars tomorrow at Sabina Park after the Trinbago Knight Riders amassed a record score of 223 runs on a damp evening in Port of Spain last Friday.
The Tallawahs came back to beat the Knight Riders after slamming 225 for six with three balls to spare, as they got their Caribbean Premier League campaign off to an impressive start. However, Santokie is hoping that the bowlers will get some help from the grounds crew in Kingston.
“It was a lovely wicket to bat on. There is nothing much you could do different. We were playing against top-class cricketers in the top order for Trinbago. You have (Sunil) Narine, Chris Lynn, and (Colin) Monro; those are great international T20 players. It was a nice batting wicket, and they made use of the power play and they took advantage of the conditions,” Santokie said.
The 33-year-old said if he and his charges could tighten up on their lengths with better bowling conditions at Sabina Park, then they should perform much better.
“I just think that we need to sharpen up some more with our length and hit some yorkers,” Santokie said. “The wicket as Sabina is different from any other wicket in the Caribbean. It can be favourable for bowlers and we are expecting a better wicket to assist bowlers.”
It took a heroic effort from captain Andre Russell to reach the record target.
Russell, who came to the crease when his side was reeling at 41/5, scored the fastest century in the CPL’s five-year history to propel the Tallawahs to the mark.
The team is now home and will take on the Stars tomorrow, before facing Chris Gayle and the St Kitts Patriots the following evening.