Phillips century in vain as Patriots eliminate Jamaica

St Kitts will now play Trinbago Knight Riders in Qualifier 2 on Friday, for a chance to clash against Guyana Amazon Warriors in the final on Sunday.

Glenn Phillips hammered a 63-ball century for Jamaica after they were asked to bat, his second ton in T20 cricket. But the rest of their batsmen failed to come together – Ross Taylor was the second highest scorer with 33. They still posted a daunting 191/5.

The chase was a nervy one. There were starts for plenty of batsmen, but no one apart from Anton Devcich could really make something of it. He scored a 23-ball half-century, while all of Chris Gayle (26 off 30), Rassie van der Dussen (20 off 22), Fabian Allen (23 off 10) and Brandon King (21 off 8) made contributions.

They still needed 15 runs off the last over, though, with Carlos Brathwaite and Ben Cutting in the middle. Brathwaite pummelled the first ball from Rovman Powell for six, but holed out off the very next ball to Andre Russell.

Powell couldn’t capitalise though. Three consecutive wides followed, and after a dot ball, another one. Off the penultimate delivery, and with Powell all over the place, Cutting launched a harmless delivery over mid-wicket, and the Patriots were through.

It was a nerve-wracking win, but Gayle, the Patriots captain, said the bowling had to improve ahead of their next outing. “We weren't happy with our bowling, and we would have liked to have conceded less than 190-plus,” he said. “But we knew it was a good wicket to bat on. We didn't get the start that we wanted. We knew the conditions will favour the batting side.”

He also praised Devcich, whose half-century set up the victory. “It would have been easier for our batting if we restricted them to a better score,” he said. “He played all the games. We expected him to play well, and it's good to see him come of age when it is needed. We'd like to see him do well against Knight Riders.”

Devcich, in fact, was named Player of the Match, despite Phillips scoring the century. “I am very grateful to get the award,” he said. “Glenn probably deserves it more, I'd like to pay tribute to that knock – it was phenomenal.”

He also thanked Gayle for sticking with him in the lean phase. “I haven't scored a lot of runs, so I'd like to give Chris Gayle a lot of credit for sticking with me. It's important to believe in yourself in times like these, and the new ball responsibility is important too at times when I am entrusted with it.”

As for the big clash against the Knight Riders, his former team, Devcich has a plan. “We can take down Trinbago – my old team. I know a few secrets (laughs), so it should be a good game.”