Walsh Jr. bowls the Tridents into the playoffs! Flighted on a fullish length on fifth stump, Fawad drives this near the toe of the bat and it floats flat to Holder at long-off. The captain takes this catch as he took the first one off Walsh Jr. with a bunny hop reaching up over his head just a yard inside the rope. Walsh Jr. has four. Game over! The Zouks are out!
Tridents vs Zouks, 26th Match at Bridgetown, CPL, Sep 29 2019 - Ball by Ball Commentary
9:45 pmThat's it from us tonight. Last year the CPL had a breakout American sensation in Ali Khan who helped bowl Trinbago Knight Riders to the title. And now USA has provided another with Hayden Walsh Jr. bowling the Tridents into the playoffs. What else is in store from him? Come back and join us through the end of the season. On behalf of Ankur Dhawan and the scoring team led by Raghav, I'm ESPNcricinfo's resident American on commentary Peter Della Penna signing off. Take care!
Zouks captain Darren Sammy: "We've seen the games that are played here and know how difficult it was to chase but with that said, with the start we got in the Powerplay getting 60 runs up front, we should have won the game. It's been that type of season where we relied mostly on Cornwall, and probably Fletcher and Colin [Ingram] to a lesser extent. The middle order has not fired. Myself as captain have really failed the team and today it was a golden opportunity for me to redeem myself, come out and win the game and I didn't. I take full responsibility for that. Plenty of hearts are hurting in the dressing room right now. Congratulations to the four teams that have made it to the playoffs but I'm bitter because I thought Zouks could have been one of those."
Tridents captain Jason Holder: "We won the most important game today. It was obviously a tough game for us. At the halfway stage I thought we were just on par and it proved to be just enough in the end. It wasn't an easy wicket to bat on. From the reports of all our batters, it was two-paced, variable bounce. I think our bowlers did an exceptional job to defend it and credit must go to our bowling unit. In a game like this, I think it's a matter of which team holds their nerve at the end. I'm extremely happy with Hayden. He's been on the sideline for a long time and it's great to see him get an opportunity and just holding it. We lost Sandeep and he's filled the gap for us quite nicely. He's bowled exceptionally well in some tough circumstances in difficult times and he's held his nerve and delivered for us."
The Tridents now take a lap of honor around the outfield sans Walsh Jr. who has been named Man of the Match and is doing the on-field interview for TV: "I wish I can take [this pitch] anywhere. Just pick it up, put it in my bag and go! I knew I was being brought in to take some wickets so all I had to do was relax and do my thing. We were confident 140, we didn't make 120 on this pitch so anything can happen. I toss it up but it has a lot of revs on it so it's up to you if you want to take a risk. I'm loving every bit of this tournament. It's a dream come true."
9:20 pm Walsh Jr. leaps into the arms of Holder, who hoists up the American leggie while pointing to the raucous fans celebrating in the stands at Kensington Oval. Huge high fives now between Walsh Jr. and his keeper Charles as they now walk off the field to huge cheers.
full toss floated at ankle height on fifth stump, slapped to long off and this time takes the run.
full toss at knee height on sixth stump, Royal slaps this flat to long-off and turns down a clear run to keep Fawad off strike.
flighted full on fourth stump, paddle sweeps this wide of fine leg.
Lovemore Gwenzi: "America got talent... From the commentary on ESPN to the field of play.. What a wonderful young player delivering at the crucial moment of the game." Howie Mandel would no doubt be a fan of Mr. Walsh Jr.'s performance tonight.
slower ball full on the stumps, skies this high to Duminy at long-on who takes this two yards in from the rope right in front of his face with palms facing out. From 31 off 27 balls with five wickets in hand, the Zouks have collapses dramatically.
genuine yorker on fourth stump at full speed now, toe-jammed out to Charles behind the stumps, who dives forward with the glove off to deny a possible run.
charges a full length ball on fifth stump and turns it into a yorker playing over the top of it.
Back over the stumps now.
back of a length on off stump, defended back to Gurney.
Around the stumps now.
low full toss at shin height on off, slapped to long off.
fullish length on middle and off, defended back to Gurney.
flighted full on fifth stump, presses firmly on the front foot with a drive but straight to extra cover.
short and wide on fourth stump, cut behind point for a run.
Hat-trick ball to Royal. No slip.
Ohhhh say can you seeeeee the playoffs! Walsh Jr. takes three in an over for the second time in five days! Flighted full on middle, Santokie goes to slog sweep and skies a top edge. Duminy charges in from cow corner and takes this sliding on his knees 20 yards in from the rope.
Walsh Jr. now the leading wicket-taker in CPL 2019. And he's missed quite a few games sitting behind Lamichhane.
U-S-A! U-S-A! Walsh Jr. floats up another one on fourth stump, this time Sammy heaves across the line and skews this high toward deep midwicket. Greaves has to cover 15 yards running back and to his left at cow corner but takes this catch reaching high to his left a yard in from the rope and keeps his body balanced well enough that he's not in danger of falling over.
floated full on fourth stump, Sammy stretches forward to smother this.
Santokie enters off strike.
And the American strikes!!! Floats this up full on fifth stump, Barnwell attacks the width driving in the air aiming for wide long-off but Holder is there and the tallest man on the park does a bunny hop to take the catch over his head a yard in from the rope! Classic legspinner's dismissal and the Tridents are still very much alive!
29 off 24 balls. Gurney and Reifer have one over left each. Walsh Jr. has two left and they're bringing him back now. Gambling with the legspinner here who has gone wicketless tonight but has been so potent this season before now.
good length ball on middle and off, another cutter jags away and beats Sammy's poke outside off trying to nudge a single to keep strike.
Back over the stumps for the final ball.
cutter on off stump on a good length, goes back to flick through midwicket.
full on middle, leading edge wide of Holder at extra cover. Major confusion for the run but they're able to get it because Holder can't get down from his height to slide and stop the ball's progress to the edge of the ring.
Captain Sammy enters. 31 off 27 to win. Gurney now goes around the stumps. He was over the wicket to Viljoen.
and now the pendulum swings back just as quickly to the Tridents! Back of the hand slower ball bouncer and Viljoen is way out in front gloving this. The ball lobs straight up behind the stumps and Charles shuffles forward to dive and claim before it can hit the turf.