Russell

Chris Gayle, captain of title-holders Jamaica Tallawahs, says while it felt good to defeat the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel by four wickets in their Limacol Caribbean Premier League semi-final playoff at Warner Park yesterday, emphasis will now be placed on today's second play-off encounter against the Guyana Amazon Warriors at the same venue.

The match-up, which is slated to get under way at 3:00pm Jamaica time, will see both teams looking to secure a place in the final against preliminary round victors, the Barbados Tridents on Saturday.

"I'm really happy with the win, but we can't really over-celebrate," said Gayle, after seeing his team cross the line at 156 for six off 19.4 in response to 155 for six made by the Red Steel.

"We got what we wanted, but tomorrow (today) is another important game, and for this, we will have to be ready."

four sixes

The Tallawahs, who were coming off a two-match losing streak, were led to victory firstly by all rounder David Bernard Jr, who claimed three for 19, South African fast bowler, Rusty Theron, who took two for 31, and towards the end, all-rounder Andre Russell, who slammed four sixes and five fours in making an unbeaten 62 off a mere 27 balls.

He entered the fray with the Tallawahs struggling at 72 for five in the 13th over, however, showing batting intelligence and good power hitting, he was able to craft an unbroken 80 runs seventh-wicket stand with Theron.

The latter, who hit the winning run, a four over extra cover off Dwayne Bravo, made 18 not out.

"Russell again did it for us today, however, our batting still remains in a struggle and hopefully, we can get it right against the Amazon Warriors," said Gayle.

seem impossible

Russell, who was named Man of the Match, said he wanted to bat close to the end of the innings, as this he said, would give the team a good chance of winning."

"I knew that as long as I stay till the end, I could get the job done," he said.

"When Rusty (Theron) came to bat, I just said let us take it deep. It may seem impossible, but with each ball if you are hitting boundaries and sixes it can change the game."

The Tallawahs, who made one change to the match against the Red Steel, with Jermaine Taylor coming in for Englishman Owais Shah, are expected to stick with a similar line-up for today's fixture.

Meanwhile, the Amazon Warriors, who the Tallawahs defeated in the final last year, and who earlier this season lost to the Tallawahs courtesy of another Andre Russell late-innings salvo, in which he hit a four and six off the last two balls of the match, are set to field a challenging unit.

Their batting will be led by the in-form Lendl Simmons and New Zelander Martin Guptil, as well as captain Denesh Ramdin and big-hitting Chris Barnwell, while their bowling is set to include mystery offs-spinner, Sunil Narine, Jamaican left-arm seamer Krishmar Santokie, and impressive young fast bowler, Ransford Beaten.