T&T Legions created history by capturing the inaugural West Indies Breakout League title with a 17-run win over the Leeward Islands Thunder at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad.
In a thrilling finale, T&T posted 181 for 5 in their 20 overs after being sent in to bat.
The visitors then made an energetic effort to reach their target, but fell just short, finishing on 164 for nine at the end of their 20 overs.
Legions’ opener Kamil Pooran smashed 73 from 44 balls, including seven fours and four sixes. He added 52 runs for the first wicket with Amir Jangoo, who scored 23 from 17 balls, but Thunder’s captain Karima Gore broke the partnership by dismissing Jangoo.
Pooran continued his attack during a 30-run stand with Navin Bidaisee.
With the score of 82 for one in the 10th over, the Legions lost three wickets, with just one run added to the scoreboard to encourage Thunder.
Leg-spinner Micah McKenzie claimed the wickets of Bidaisee for five and Jyd Goolie for a duck, while Gore trapped Crystian Thurton lbw for a duck.
Pooran then added 39 crucial runs with captain Joshua Da Silva before Anderson Mahase dismissed him, leaving the score on 122 for five at the start of the 15th over.
Da Silva and Joshua James then struck 59 runs from the last five overs to get their side up to a competitive total.
Da Silva finished unbeaten on 40 from 31 balls with four fours and one six, while James finished with an unbeaten 26 off 16 deliveries, including two sixes and one four.
With his left-arm spin, Gore took 2-22, and McKenzie grabbed 2-29.
In reply, the Thunder’s run chase got off to a brilliant start with openers Jamie Cornelius and Kofi James scoring an impressive 57 runs off five overs.
But when Cornelius was dismissed by McKenny Clarke for 11, the match suddenly collapsed, and the Legions took control.
Bidaisee had Jewel Andrew caught for 14 and bowled Mikyle Louis for one. Goolie dismissed Gore for 5, and the Thunder slumped to 89 for 4 in the 10th over.
James continued his counter-attacking and eventually reached his half-century. However, when it looked like he would carry his side to victory, Goolie dismissed him for the top score of 63 off 36 deliveries, as the Thunder slumped to 102 for 5.
Despite the other batters’ fighting effort, they could not keep up and ultimately fell short of their target.
Goolie ended with 3-13, Clarke bagged 3-34, while Bidaisee took 2-27.
