Saim Ayub had been waiting for this one.

The Jamaica Kingsmen opener walked into a difficult situation against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, but by the time he walked back, he had put his name on the scoreboard with his first-ever T20 century.

Ayub smashed 102 runs from 58 balls, giving the Kingsmen the momentum they needed to beat the Patriots by 11 runs in Basseterre.

It wasn't a straightforward innings from the start. Jamaica lost both their opening batters cheaply, and when Kirk McKenzie also departed after a 31-run partnership with Ayub, the Kingsmen were suddenly struggling.

At one stage, they were 63 for 4.

That was when Ayub took responsibility.

Rather than trying to hit his way out of trouble immediately, he stayed at the crease and slowly rebuilt the innings. Once he had settled in, the boundaries started coming more regularly.

The real push came towards the end.

Ayub reached his hundred in the 19th over, bringing up the milestone with a six. He was dismissed from the very next ball, but by then he had done exactly what Jamaica needed from him.

The Kingsmen eventually finished on 182 for 7, with 42 runs coming in the final three overs.

The Patriots had a difficult chase ahead of them, and things became even tougher after rain delayed the start of their innings.

When the game resumed, Jamaica's bowlers immediately put pressure on the Patriots. Three wickets fell during the Powerplay, leaving the chase at 42 for 3.

It looked like the Kingsmen were comfortably ahead.

Andre Fletcher, however, wasn't ready to give up.

The Patriots batter found his rhythm in the middle overs and brought up a fighting fifty. His 55 off 39 balls briefly changed the feel of the chase. Dasun Shanaka then joined him and produced one big over, taking 24 runs and suddenly making the target look reachable.

With 64 needed from the final three overs, the Patriots had a real chance.

Then came Hunain Shah's over.

He removed Jason Holder in the 19th over and produced the kind of bowling Jamaica needed at that stage of the game. The momentum swung back towards the Kingsmen, and the equation became almost impossible for the Patriots.

Shanaka still tried his best.

He started the final over with two sixes, but there simply wasn't enough left to finish the job. The Patriots ended their innings at 171 for 6, falling 11 runs short.

For Jamaica Kingsmen, it was their third win of the tournament, taking them up to fourth place in the points table.

But the biggest takeaway from the night was Ayub.

A hundred after his team had slipped to 63 for 4, followed by a win in a tight contest — this wasn't just a milestone innings for Saim Ayub. It was the innings that set up Jamaica's victory.

Brief Scores:

Jamaica Kingsmen – 182/7 in 20 overs

Saim Ayub 102, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/18

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots – 171/6 in 20 overs

Andre Fletcher 55, Dasun Shanaka 35

Jamaica Kingsmen won by 11 runs.