An 18-ball 53 from Evin Lewis, a 40-ball 71 from Devon Thomas and an unbeaten 37 off 15 balls from Fabian Allen saw St Kitts and Nevis Patriots chase down 242 against Jamaica Tallawahs in Caribbean Premier League 2019 last Wednesday.

It is the fourth-highest total batting second in Twenty20 cricket, and the second-highest successful one, after Australia’s 245/5 against New Zealand in Auckland last year. It is also the highest total in CPL history. The game equalled the record for the most number of sixes in a T20, with 37 big shots between the two sides. It also saw 483 runs scored across 38.5 overs.

St Kitts claimed the win with four wickets and seven balls to spare. It was an exceptional performance from the home team, who now has it’s first win of the edition after starting their campaign with consecutive defeats.

Chris Gayle’s 22nd T20 hundred catapulted Jamaica to 241/4. He was well-supported by a 36-ball 73 from Chadwick Walton and an eight-ball 15 from Andre Russell. While the rest of the St Kitts attack was taken apart by the batsmen, Alzarri Joseph, with figures of 2/39, was the pick of the bowlers.

Lewis and Thomas, the St Kitts’ openers, went on the counterattack, posting 85 runs for the first wicket in 5.3 overs. The duo smashed three fours and five sixes in the first four overs, accumulating 52 runs in 24 deliveries. Lewis, in particular, was in splendid touch, smashing three fours and six sixes in his knock, while also notching up the fastest half-century in CPL history, off 17 balls.

Unsurprisingly, he was adjudged the Player of the Match. “Means a lot to me, chasing 240-odd,” Lewis said after the game. “I backed my abilities and it came out good. The guys are high on confidence after coming from a couple of losses.”