Sadaqat century sends Kingsmen through

The Jamaica Kingsmen produced their best performance of the season in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Eliminator, beating the Barbados Tridents by nine wickets at Kensington Oval earlier tonight.

Maaz Sadaqat became the youngest centurion in CPL history at 21 as he produced a stunning 112 at the top of the order, taking the game away from the Tridents from the outset. His opening partner, Kirk McKenzie, finished unbeaten on 22 as the Kingsmen steamrolled their way into Qualifier Two.

The Tridents made a disastrous start, losing Brandon King and Kevlon Anderson in the first two overs. They were 2-2 after three overs and lost two more wickets by the end of the Powerplay. At 24-4, there was silence around Kensington Oval as the Jamaicans sensed blood and the chance to set themselves up for a modest run chase.

The Tridents' hopes rested on Quinton de Kock, who has made the tournament look easy at times. The classy South African has rescued his side from precarious situations throughout the season, and his task became even more difficult after the fall of the fifth wicket, with Sherfane Rutherford brilliantly bowled by a dazzling delivery from Saim Ayub.

But de Kock did what he has done throughout the tournament, biding his time and ensuring he was there at the end to shape the home side's innings.

He found the ideal ally in captain and fellow veteran Chris Green, and together they compiled a superb 114-run partnership to salvage the Tridents' innings. The pair added 95 runs in the back half of the innings, lifting the home side to 144-6, with de Kock sacrificing himself on the final ball. The tournament's leading run-scorer finished with another impressive 71, while Green struck an unbeaten 57.

The Tridents would have been pleased with their recovery and hopeful of defending their modest total. Any momentum they had built was quickly quashed by Kingsmen openers Sadaqat and McKenzie, who launched the chase in emphatic fashion. Sadaqat dominated the strike early and made full use of it, powering the Kingsmen to 79 without loss at the end of the Powerplay.

He continued to dictate proceedings and raced to his first CPL half-century in just 22 balls. Tridents captain Green was left scratching his head as none of his bowling changes could slow Sadaqat down. The spin attack that had ripped through the Kingsmen's top order earlier in the season was now being dispatched to all corners of the ground by the young Pakistani batter.

At the other end, McKenzie played the perfect supporting role, rotating the strike and allowing Sadaqat to continue his assault.

Sadaqat's strike rate remained flawless as he reached his maiden T20 century in exactly twice the number of deliveries it had taken him to reach his fifty. He was unable to finish the chase, however, as Daniel Sams finally induced a mistake, with Sadaqat skying a slower ball that the bowler caught himself.

He departed to a sporting round of applause from the home crowd. With the Kingsmen needing just one run to win and 35 balls remaining, a wide from Kevlon Anderson ended the Tridents' campaign and summed up their evening.

The Kingsmen will now advance to Qualifier Two, where they will face the loser of the Amazon Warriors-Falcons clash for a place in Sunday's final.