Kingsmen hold nerve as Saim Ayub century sinks Patriots

Pakistan all-rounder Saim Ayub produced the innings that Jamaica Kingsmen desperately needed, smashing 102 from 58 balls to steer his side to 182-7 against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Warner Park.

The left-hander did not hang around quietly. He cleared the ropes eight times and found the boundary on six occasions, taking the attack apart whenever the Patriots missed their lengths.

It was the sort of knock that changed the shape of the innings. No other Kingsmen batter passed 25, leaving Ayub to carry most of the scoring burden before Keemo Paul added an unbeaten 25 from 13 balls.

Captain Rovman Powell chipped in with 21 from 17, while Kirk McKenzie and Usman Khan made 10 each. Keacy Carty's first-ball dismissal, meanwhile, left the Kingsmen under early pressure.

Naseem Shah, Wanindu Hasaranga and Obed McCoy each claimed two wickets for the Patriots, keeping the Kingsmen from pushing their total towards 190.

The chase began well enough for the Patriots. Andre Fletcher brought plenty of intent, racing to 55 from 38 balls with four fours and three sixes. Jason Holder then kept the pressure on with 34 from 23, while Dasun Shanaka's unbeaten 35 from only 18 deliveries gave the home side genuine hope late in the innings.

That was when the Kingsmen found their composure.

Jediah Blades and Hunain Shah struck twice apiece, picking up important wickets as the Patriots' chase began to lose momentum. Saim Ayub and Paul also contributed with a wicket each.

With 183 required, the Patriots eventually finished on 171-6 from their 20 overs. Eleven runs separated the teams, but the margin hardly told the full story. The Patriots were still in the contest deep into the chase before the Kingsmen closed the door.

For Ayub, the night belonged to the bat first, then the ball. The Saim Ayub century gave the Kingsmen the platform, and his all-round contribution helped them finish the job.

The Jamaica Kingsmen will take plenty of confidence from the result, particularly after surviving a chase that threatened to go right down to the final over.