West Indies' Chris Gayle.<

Jamaica Tallawahs captain Chris Gayle said good bowling on the part of his most experienced bowlers was the reasons behind their impressive seven-wicket win over Antigua Hawksbills in the Limacol Caribbean Premier League yesterday.

The contest, which was played at Providence Stadium in Guyana, saw Hawksbills batting first, and led by 38 from opener Kieron Powell they posted a modest 117 for seven off their assigned 20 overs.

South African fast bowler, Vernon Philander, who was named Man of the Match, snared three for 16 off his maximum four overs.

Off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan and captain Chris Gayle chipped in with two for 18, and two for 22 to end as the next best bowlers.

unbeaten

Tallawahs, in reply, then coasted to their target at 120 for three off 16.5 overs, with all-rounder Andre Russell scoring an unbeaten 48, and Danza Hyatt, 25 not out.

"They got off to flyer with the (first) over Bernard bowling being a bad one. But we did well brilliantly to pull it back," explained Gayle.

"The experienced guys came in and bowled well with Muralithan playing a big part for us in that mid-period, along with Nikita Miller, and Philander finished it off for us towards the end."

"... And, also, don't forget Chris Gayle four wickets for 22 runs off overs," he added.

Winning the toss and electing to bat, Hawksbills were the first out of the blocks, with Powell and Australian Ricky Ponting, who made 19, taking advantage of the opening six overs power-play period. The two brought Antigua to 48 for one at the end of the period.

But, with a big total in sight Hawksbills lost their way as a result of Muralitharan and Miller, who despite ending wicket-less, finished with economical figures of none for 12 off three overs.

South African all-rounder Justin Kemp was the only other Antiguan batsman to get into double figures. He made 19.

Set a decent ,but get-at-able target, Jamaica got off to somewhat of a shaky start when they lost Pakistani opener Ahmed Shezad for 10, caught by wicketkeeper Johnson Charles off the bowling of Kemp, for 10.

However, thanks to the explosive Russell, who hit three sixes and two fours, Hyatt, who hit a six and two fours, and to a lesser extent, Gayle, who stuck around for 11 off 23 balls, Jamaica were able to make amends.

"We played good positive cricket, and I am happy with that," said Gayle.

"We did not get the start that we wanted as we lost Shezad early. But I tried to play a bit of a captain role, and then Danza Hyatt came in and did his thing, before Russell came and finished things off."

Jamaica, who were registering their first win after losing their opening against the Guyana Amazon Warriors last Friday, will next play Trinidad and Tobago Red Steels on Wednesday at Queen's Park Oval.