Powell hails the ‘12th man’ of Sabina Park

While Saturday’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) victory provided a significant boost for the Jamaica Kingsmen, they still have work to do to climb the standings.

The Kingsmen sit at the foot of the seven-team table with two points and a net run rate of -0.596.

Despite their slow start, the team’s leading performers have continued to shine individually.

Captain Rovman Powell is the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 138 runs from four innings, while teammate Andre Russell is joint leader in the wickets column with seven.

The Kingsmen return to action today when they face the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Sabina Park.

Though they remain at the bottom of the table, there is a sense of momentum within the camp.

The Kingsmen secured their first victory of the season on Saturday with a resounding five-wicket win that will go down in the history books.

Jamaica chased down 183 with overs to spare, recording the highest successful run chase in CPL history at Sabina Park.

A blistering 69 off 25 balls from opener Kirk McKenzie set the tone, dismantling the Knight Riders’ bowling attack and putting the home side firmly in control.

Although there were a few stutters in the middle order, the composed Powell (29 off 22 balls) and the explosive Andre Russell (27 off 15) ensured there were no late jitters as they guided the team home.

For the Kingsmen, the victory was more than just a win. It was a testament to the team’s resilience.

Having lost their first three matches, the pressure was mounting.

However, Powell revealed that the team’s unity never wavered, even during the difficult start.

“Yeah, definitely. It would be good if we can come up with another two points here. It would help us a lot going on the road.

“But having said that, a lot of credit has to be given to the coaching staff also. When we were 3-0 down, they didn’t go into their different corners and bicker. They stuck together. Yesterday was a nice day together. No training. We spent some time together and saw if we could understand each other.”

The Jamaican skipper also made a special point of thanking the Sabina Park faithful, whose unwavering support has remained a source of strength throughout the team’s struggles.

“We always believe that the fans are the 12th man. You know, when the game comes down to the wire, how important they are and how their support is. Credit has to be given to them. You can see they were cricket-thirsty, and they came out and supported us for the first three games. I wholeheartedly tell them thanks for that, but we’re not done. We still have one more game to go.”

Having broken their duck, the Kingsmen will be eager to capitalise on home advantage and build momentum before taking their campaign on the road.