Barbados Tridents overcame early jitters as Jonathan Carter posted a brilliant unbeaten century to steer his team to 174 for eight against Cape Cobras in their Group B Oppo Champions League Twenty20 match here today.
Carter anchored the Tridents' innings with a well-crafted 111 not out off just 68 balls that consisted of 10 boundaries and five sixes, while opener Dilshan Munaweera (42) was the second highest scorer.
It was all credit to the West Indian, who almost single-handedly took the team past 170-run mark, even as only three batsmen in the side could reach the double-digit mark.
Put into bat, Carter and Munaweera lifted the team after they were reduced to two for seven in the third over of the match itself, with opener Shane Dowrich (0) and one-down batsman Raymon Reifer (1) getting out cheaply.
The combo of Carter and Munaweera consolidated the innings, putting on a solid 75 runs together for the third wicket to bring Tridents back on track.
Dropping Carter at 26 proved costly for the Cobras, as he stole two fours and a six in that very over of Justin Kemp.
However, it was an unfortunate end to Munaweera's knock that came off 21 balls, studded with five fours and two sixes, as the Sri Lankan batsman was run out.
Carter, however, stuck to his guns at one end, although his new partners in James Franklin (3), Jeevan Mendis (10), Jason Holder (0), Ashley Nurse (0) and Akeal Hosein (6) were back to the dressing room in quick succession.
Carter alone went on doing his job to perfection even as wickets kept falling at the other end. The left-handed batsman kept on hitting every loose balls to maintain a high run-rate.
For Cobras, Sybrand Engelbrecht (2/24) and Charl Langeveldt (2/29) finished with two wickets each.
