The Trinbago Knight Riders secured an 18-run victory over the St. Lucia Kings in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League match at the Daren Sammy Cricket Grounds in St Lucia.
Both teams had just a single win apiece in the tournament’s opening stages but the Knight Riders’ batting firepower, led by Kieron Pollard, proved the difference.
The win carried Trinbago into third place, while the Kings, suffering their first loss were near the bottom of the table. Sent in to bat first after Kings won the toss, the Knight Riders’ innings began with solid contributions.
Openers Colin Munro, with a brisk 43 off 30 balls and Alex Hales, 10, provided a good start with a 47-run partnership, laying a strong foundation. After the wicket of Munro fell, captain Nicholas Pooran contributed 34 off 30 balls to get things back on track but it was Pollard who ultimately took the game away from the Kings.
“Player of the Match” Pollard smashed six sixes and four fours that propelled the Knight Riders to a competitive total of 183-7. In reply, the St Lucia Kings openers Tim Seifert and Johnson Charles raced to 74 in nine overs.
Andre Russell, playing his first game of the season, removed Seifert for 35 before Usman Tariq had Charles caught for 47 off 37 balls. The Kings consistently lost wickets at critical moments, with the required run rate climbing steadily, leaving them needing an almost impossible 29 runs from the final over bowled by Russell.
Ackeem Auguste, 20 not out, briefly gave the home side some hope by smacking Russell’s first ball for a six.
However, the experienced Russell conceded only four more runs and claimed the wicket of Delano Potgieter for 24, to seal an 18-run victory for the visitors.
Guyana Amazon Warriors blow out Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
The Guyana Amazon Warriors dismantled the table-topping Antigua & Barbuda Falcons by a massive 83 runs in a rain-affected Game at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua.
The Warriors dominated the Falcons, with their inspirational skipper, Imran Tahir’s magical spell, claiming a sensational 5-21, to extinguish the Falcons’ chase and claim the Player of the Match award.
The victory puts the Warriors in second place on the table. They have now won two from two, marking them as serious title contenders.
The match began with a bold decision when Tahir won the toss and chose to bat first.
After a rain delay of 54 minutes, the Warriors’ innings was built on a spectacular 106-run partnership in just 44 balls between Shai Hope and Shimron Hetmyer.
Hope crafted 82 from 54 deliveries. Hetmyer then smashed 65 from just 26 balls, inclusive of five fours and five sixes, powering Guyana to 211-3.
Romario Shepherd also wanted in on the action and smashed an unbeaten 25 from eight balls.
In reply, the Falcons chase started off well with Rahkeem Cornwall hitting a four and a six in the opening over, but a brilliant catch from Gudakesh Motie sent back Cornwall to the stands.
Karima Gore made 31 off 14 balls, and Bevan Jacobs 26 from 25, but once they fell, the innings crumbled at 128 in 15.2 overs.
GAW veteran spinner Tahir attacked Falcons batters from the beginning with a double-wicket maiden and continued his attack as he single-handedly secured a comprehensive win for his side. Seamer Dwaine Pretorious and Shepherd also chipped in with two wickets each.
