Tridents make it through

The big guns failed to fire and the support unit threatened to implode in the dying moments, but the Barbados Tridents just held on to prevail over the Antigua Hawksbills in last evening’s 12th match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 championship.
After recovering from a shaky 29 for four, the Hawksbills eked out a barely-adequate 129 for eight to which the Tridents replied with 130 for nine to edge home with the last pair at the wicket and just two balls to spare.
Despite not being treated to the fireworks of Wednesday night when the Tridents flogged the St Lucia Zouks, the boisterous home supporters seemed satisfied that their team would romp to a comfortable, one-sided triumph when the score passed the 100 mark with only four wickets down and Jeevan Mendis and a set Jonathan Carter at the crease.
However, panicky running between the wicket and a couple of injudicious strokes turned the match on its head before youthful Trinidad and Tobago allrounder Akeal Hosein calmly worked a delivery from experienced Australian Brad Hogg into the leg side to complete the two runs required and ease the anxiety of from the local fans.
Tridents captain Kieron Pollard opted to invite the Hawksbills to bat first after he won the toss.
His decision was soon vindicated with the run out of opening bat Danza Hyatt off only the third delivery bowled by pacer Ravi Rampaul, thanks to a direct hit at the striker’s end by Hosein.
In a welcome return to form Rampaul then proceeded to rip through the Hawksbills’ top order, removing Ben Dunk, Devon Thomas and Orlando Peters in his first spell of three overs.
Captain Marlon Samuels found an able partner in veteran Davis Hussey as he set about repairing the early damage wrought by the burly Trinidadian and the pair duly posted 51 before Hussey holed out in the deep off Ashley Nurse’s offspin.
The skipper brought up his half-century with the third of the four sixes he hefted in a polished innings of 66.
Pollard though, with his first delivery had him caught after stroking four fours off the 55 balls he faced.
Man of the match Rampaul had another wicket in a second spell for figures of 4 for 15.
The Tridents also lost a wicket in the first over of their response-local favourite Dwayne Smith miscuing an attempted pull to be caught off Sheldon Cottrell’s fifth ball.
Steady partnerships between the likes of Shane Dowrich (18), Shoaib Malik(18) and Carter(35) knocked the fight out of the dispirited Hawksbills even though they got rid of the dangerous Pollard for only 14.
Suddenly both Carter and Mendis needlessly ran themselves out and Jason Holder and  Nurse perished to catches in the deep, and with the score slipping to 118 for eight the Antiguan franchise were scenting that elusive first victory of the campaign.
Twelve runs were still required at the start of the final over and Hosein and fellow-Trinidadian Rayad Emrit, compliments two overthrows off the first delivery and a bold switch hit boundary by Emrit, brought the target to within two runs.
The excitement reached fever pitch with Emrit’s run-out off the third ball but 21-year-old Hosein provided the final telling strike to lift the Tridents to their third victory in the competition.