Hip! Hip! Hayden!

BARBADOS TRIDENTS, inspired by a four-wicket haul from leg-spinner Hayden Walsh Jr, secured a play-off spot in the Caribbean Premier League after defeating St Lucia Zouks by 24 runs in a tense, low-scoring encounter at Kensington Oval last night.

Batting first, the Tridents were restricted to 141 for six in their 20 overs. Only opener Johnson Charles, who hit four fours and two sixes in a topscore of 47 off 35 balls, scored freely.

In reply, the Zouks, powered by cameos from Colin Ingram, Colin de Grandhomme and Rahkeem Cornwall started briskly, but suffered a middle- and lower-order collapse to be dismissed for 117 in 18.4 overs, much to the delight of the estimated 6 000 fans.

Man-Of-The-Match Walsh, who was flayed for 15 runs in his first over, finished with four for 26, pushing his tally of wickets to a tournament-high 15.

He got excellent support from left-arm seamer Harry Gurney, who bagged three for 17 in four tight overs as the Zouks lost their last seven wickets for just 40 runs.

It was the first time in four years that the Tridents had reached the knockout stage of the tournament they won in 2014.

       Subscribe now to our eNATION edition.

For the latest stories and breaking news updates download the Nationnews apps for iOS and Android.