By Sherdon Cowan (Sportsmax)- Leeward Islands Thunder maintained their perfect start to the West Indies T20 Breakout League, as they pulled off a tense three-wicket win over Trinidad and Tobago Legions on Friday night at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, and in doing so, dealt the tournament favourites their first defeat.
In a contest that swung with every phase, it was Thunder’s well-rounded performance — led by spinner Micah McKenzie’s devastating 4-25, and a trio of timely knocks from Kofi James (36), Jewel Andrew (47), and Giovonte Depeiza (32)—that made the difference. They chased down the Legions’ 151-8 with three wickets and three overs to spare, finishing on 152-7 in 17 overs to make it three wins from three.
Asked to bat first, the Legions looked to set the tone through the aggressive Amir Jangoo, who countered early losses with a fluent 52 off 39 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes. But around him, it was a procession.
The Thunder spinners, led by McKenzie, spun a web that the Legions could not escape. McKenzie removed Cephas Cooper (10), Kamil Pooran (six), Jangoo, and Navin Bidaisee (zero) in a match-defining burst. Earlier, Kofi James had made the breakthrough with the key scalp of Captain Joshua Da Silva (15).
From 85-5, the innings never truly recovered. Medium-fast bowler Cameron Pennyfeather chipped in with two wickets, including Mikkel Govia (six) and McKenny Clarke (zero), while Elroy Francis accounted for the struggling Jyd Goolie (19). At 114-8, a sub-150 score looked likely.
But Johann Layne, with an unbeaten 22 off 10 balls, in a last-gasp show of power, clobbered three sixes in an entertaining cameo. With support from Joshua James, who was also unbeaten on 13, the Legions scrambled to a total that gave their bowlers something to work with but not enough breathing room against a confident Thunder lineup.
The Thunder reply began nervously, with the Legions striking twice in the powerplay to leave the scoreboard reading 24-2. But the experienced Kofi James and the enterprising Jewel Andrew stabilized the innings with a smart, calculated partnership of 66 runs.
James, who struck three fours and two sixes in a breezy 23-ball 36, set the tone, while Andrew, who laced four fours and three sixes in his 28-ball 47, threatened to take the game away completely. When James fell to McKenny Clarke, Andrew followed soon after, caught off Johann Layne, leaving the Thunder at 115-4, and though still in control, they had work to do.
However, Giovonte Depeiza stepped in with 32 off 24 balls, decorated with two boundaries and a six, as he carried the Thunder within touching distance of victory at 145-4 in the 16th over.
Just as Thunder looked to cruise to a comfortable win, Navin Bidaisee engineered a late scare — removing Depeiza, trapping Anderson Mahase for a golden duck, and running out Karima Gore (11) in a sudden flurry that saw Thunder slip to 145-7. But, with seven runs still required, Cameron Pennyfeather (six not out) and Elroy Francis (one) held their nerve to secure the win.
The result keeps the Leeward Islands Thunder unbeaten and in prime position for a spot in the final, while the Trinidad and Tobago Legions will be hoping to regroup to keep their hopes alive.
