Ben Laughlin inspires Hawksbills to only win

Basseterre (St. Kitts), Aug 10 (IANS/CMC) Ben Laughlin inspired Antigua Hawksbills to their only win in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as they cruised past Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel in their final preliminary match by five wickets.

Laughlin bagged three for seven from three overs to earn the Man-of-the-Match award, as the Hawksbills dismissed the Red Steel for 113 in 17.3 overs in the 25th match of the competition at Warner Park here Saturday, reports CMC.

Sheldon Cottrell claimed two for 14 from 3.3 overs and Justin Athanaze grabbed two for 25 from three overs to help with the demolition job.

Hawksbills reached their target with nine balls to spare through attritional, if not explosive batting, as David Hussey led the way with 24, their captain Marlon Samuels got 23 and Carlos Brathwaite ended with 20 not out.

Shannon Gabriel and Kevon Cooper collected two wickets apiece to put an element of doubt in the Hawksbills' minds, but the Red Steel did not have the weight of runs to cause too much panic.

The victory gave the Hawksbills their first two points of the competition and meant that the Red Steel have dropped below reigning champions Jamaica Tallawahs in the standings, although they both have the same number of points - 12.

Both the Red Steel - qualified for the playoffs - and the Hawksbills - who failed to reach the playoffs - have completed their quota of preliminary matches in the competition.

It was a very low-key finale for the two sides, after the Hawksbills won the toss and chose to field on a typically easy-paced pitch.

Action continues Sunday at the same venue, where Guyana Amazon Warriors and St. Lucia Zouks meet in their final preliminary match at 12 noon, four hours before the Tallawahs and the Barbados Tridents play their last game.

Brief scores:

Red Steel: 113 off 17.3 overs (Evin Lewis 38; Ben Laughlin 3/7, Sheldon Cottrell 2/14, Justin Athanaze 2/25).

Hawksbills: 114 for five off 18.3 overs (David Hussey 24, Marlon Samuels 23, Carlos Brathwaite 20 not out; Shannon Gabriel 2/16, Kevon Cooper 2/22).

--IANS/CMC