5 best performers from the 2015 Carribean Premier League

The Caribbean Premier League, which was launched in 2013, completed its third edition, as the Trinidad and Tobago Red Steelers beat Barbados Tridents by 20 runs. The cricket carnival which had replaced the Caribbean T20 as the premier T20 tournament in the Caribbean was started with 6 franchises. The Jamaican Tallahwahs won the inaugural tournament in 2013.Here’s a list of the top 5 players who shone in the latest edition of the CPL:

#5 Jacques Kallis, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steelers

Kallis has still been effective despite retiring

Matches	Runs	HS	Strike Rate	100/50	Average
13	304	61*	113.4	0/1	27.63

It was a treat to watch the veteran bat like he did in his heydays. The 39-year-old finished as the highest run-getter for the winning team. It was almost nostalgic to watch him perform consistently throughout the Caribbean carnival, hitting 35 boundaries and 7 sixes. The South African all-rounder batted through the 20 overs, hitting 61 runs of 51 balls to guide the Steelers to the Semi-finals.

After retiring from all formats of the game in 2014, Kallis was the Player of the Series in the latest Big Bash League, playing for Sydney Sixers.

The Proteas legend was also signed up as the mentor for KKR from IPL 2015.

#4 Sunil Narine, Guyana Amazon Warriors

Sunil Narine was at his miserly best

Matches	Wickets	Runs	Economy	Maidens	Best Figures
10	14	193	4.94	3	3-6

Batsmen around the world still fail to decipher the Trinidadian off-spinner, who remains the “Mystery Spinner” even after making his debut in 2011. Narine not only managed to be the most economical bowler of the tournament, but also stunned everyone with his heroics against Red Steel.

After the game was tied, Guyana had to defend 11 runs in the Super Over to win the match. Narine scripted the win in style by bowling a maiden Super Over, not even conceding a single run – the first in T20 cricket.

Narine’s action has repeatedly come under the scanner, though it was cleared again earlier this year.

#3 Andre Fletcher, St Lucia Zouks

Fletcher would looking to comeback into the national side

Matches	Runs	HS	Strike Rate	100/50	Average
10	369	77	129.74	0/4	36.90

The 27-year-old Grenadian was touted as the next big thing in West Indian cricket, but somehow couldn’t replicate his first class success at the international stage. However, he did manage to shun his critics with his wonderful performance in the latest edition of the CPL, finishing as the second highest run-getter.

The CPL veteran had amassed a massive 238 runs in 7 innings in the inaugural edition of the CPL.

Cricket lovers would faintly remember Fletcher as the young West Indian batsman who smashed Brett Lee, a much senior bowler, in the second T20 World Cup in 2009.

#2 Dwayne Bravo, Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel

Bravo led the bowling charts

Matches	Wickets	Runs	Economy	Maidens	Best Figures
13	28	328	7.35	1	5-23

Bravo ended up as the highest wicket taker of the tournament – a feat that he’s used to by now after winning 2 IPL Purple Caps (2013 and 2015)

He grabbed a total of 28 wickets, which included a splendid spell of 5-23 against Tallahwahs at Port of Spain.

Be it the rock-hard pitches of West Indies or the spinner friendly tracks of the sub-continent, Dwayne Bravo knows how to work his pace and trouble the opposition with his all-round capabilities. The right-arm medium pacer played a huge role in helping his team lift the trophy.

Bravo’s IPL fate remains a question as his team Chennai Super Kings has recently been suspended from the tournament.

#1 Chris Gayle, Jamaica Tallawahs

Gayle topped the charts again

Matches	Runs	HS	Strike Rate	100/50	Average
10	430	105	160.44	1/3	61.42

It’s not a surprise that Jamaican Chris Gayle tops the list. His spectacular form meant that the Gayle storm wreaked havoc on the opposition till the big man was at the crease. The former Orange Cap winner of IPL hit 33 massive sixes, and ended up with the highest runs, highest individual score, and highest number of sixes. He hit a blistering 105 of 57 balls against Red Steels at Sabina Park.

He was a one-man army and could have led his team to the cup, but unfortunately he wasn’t backed up adequately by his teammates.

The Jamaican giant will undergoing a back surgery soon, which will keep him out of the game till December.