Sangakkara's 74* outclasses winless Stars
Jamaica Tallawahs' six-wicket win pushed them one victory away from their fifth consecutive playoffs berth
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Watson announced a slew of changes, dropping three overseas players - Jesse Ryder, Eddie Leie and Mitchell McClenaghan - in favor of locals. The tweaks weren't just restricted to the XI, but the batting order too. Johnson Charles was dropped down the order, with Rahkeem Cornwall opening with Andre Fletcher. The move didn't have the desired impact as Cornwall chipped a catch to Krishmar Santokie at long-on for 7 in the third over.
One match after being run-out first-ball, Watson hammered seven sixes, propelling Stars to within a run of their season-best total before falling for a 45-ball 80 with eight balls remaining. He was fortunate to be reprieved on 22, in the 11th over, when Santokie spilled a waist-high chance at short fine leg after Kesrick Williams had tucked him up. Two balls later, Williams tried to bounce Watson, but the baill sailed over the leg side fence. Watson grew in confidence from there on, bringing up his half-century off 30 deliveries.
Coming out to bat in the third over of the chase, after Lendl Simmons fell, Sangakkara started with a boundary over point off Jerome Taylor. He played second-fiddle to Glenn Phillips initially as the New Zealander clattered a pair of sixes off Marlon Samuels and Shane Shillingford in the Powerplay during the course of a 42-run stand in just 4.3 overs. After Phillips fell, Sangakkara picked up the pace further with Andre McCarthy, who continued to impress, this time making 36 in a 71-run stand.
For as good as Sangakkara was, the Stars routinely released pressure, ensuring the asking rate was always in check. Twice inside the first 10 overs, Stars bowlers bowled five wides down the leg side; the hosts were 84 for 2 at the halfway mark. Like Watson, Sangakkara too was reprieved when Shane Shillingford fluffed an opportunity at short third man off Kyle Mayers in the 14th over. He was on 32 then.
Peter Della Penna is ESPNcricinfo's USA correspondent. @PeterDellaPenna