Exciting start to CPL as Patriots clip Falcons

NORTH SOUND, Antigua (CMC):

THE ST Kitts and Nevis Patriots overcame a half-century from hometown boy Jewel Andrew to register an exciting one-wicket victory over the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the opening match of the Caribbean Premier League at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium on Thursday.

In pursuit of the Falcons’ score of 163-4 off their 20 overs, the Patriots got home when Anrich Nortje scampered a single off the last ball bowled by Roshon Primus to finish on 164-9 in 20 overs.

It was the perfect start to the tournament for the Patriots, who won just one game in the 2023 CPL, while finishing bottom of the table.

After winning the toss and sending the Falcons in to bat, the home side found themselves on the backfoot when Nortje bowled Teddy Bishop for one to leave them 7-1.

Fakhar Zaman and Kofi James then added 60 runs for the second wicket, before Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed Zaman for 43 and James followed soon after for 22, with the Falcons sliding to 80-3 in the 11th over.

Sam Billings made 18 before he was dismissed by Dominic Drakes, as the Patriots took control of the contest.

But Andrew and Fabian Allen came together to blast 61 runs from the final six overs to bolster the Falcons’ total.

The 17-year-old Andrew, on his CPL debut, belted an unbeaten 50 from 30 balls, with seven fours and one six, while Allen, who finished on 24 not out from 17 balls, hit one boundary and two sixes.

Andrew brought up his 50 in the final over when he punched fast bowler Ryan John to deep midwicket for a single.

In their run chase, the Patriots were given a flying start by openers Evin Lewis and captain Andre Fletcher, with the pair adding 37 runs inside five overs.

Fletcher was the first to go, stumped off the bowling of left-arm spinner Imad Wasim for 25.

By the time Lewis was caught at long off trying to hit Shamar Springer out of the ground for 29, the Patriots were 71-2 after eight overs.

It took a responsible innings from man-of-the-match Kyle Mayers to keep the Patriots in the contest after Springer accounted for the wickets of Tristan Stubbs (two), Odean Smith (27) and Rilee Rossouw for a duck, to see them slip to 111-5.

Mayers struck 39 from 24 balls, inclusive of three fours and two sixes, but his dismissal in the 16th over with the score at 133-6, left the game in the balance.

Things got even more intense when Ryan John, Dominic Drakes and Ashmead Nedd lost their wickets for the addition of only five runs to leave Patriots 159-9.

With seven runs needed from Primus’ last over, Nortje and Shamsi held their nerves to lead their team to victory.

Springer ended with 4-29 from his four overs and Primus 2-21 from two overs.