CPL: Knight Riders off to winning start

BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC):

In a thrilling, high-scoring encounter at Warner Park, the Trinbago Knight Riders outplayed the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots by 44 runs in the third match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

After winning the toss, Patriots’ skipper Andre Fletcher opted to bowl first, but the decision quickly backfired on what proved to be an excellent batting surface. Sunil Narine got the Knight Riders off to a flying start, smashing three fours and four sixes in his knock of 38 runs, setting the tone for a dominant innings.

The Knight Riders’ batters relentlessly attacked, with Nicholas Pooran stealing the show. His blistering knock of 97 off just 43 balls, filled with audacious strokes, earned him the Player of the Match award.

Pooran was ably supported by Keacy Carty, who added to the Patriots’ misery with a rapid 73 off 35 balls. The duo’s destructive 122-run, fourth-wicket partnership left the opposition reeling as they sent balls flying to all corners of the short-sided ground in Basseterre.

Carty fittingly concluded the innings with a six off the final ball, propelling the Knight Riders to a mammoth total of 250 for four. The Patriots, despite their valiant effort, could only muster 206 for eight, making this the highest-scoring match between the two sides in CPL history. However, from the outset, Fletcher’s team never seemed likely to chase down the daunting target.

Mikyle Louis top-scored with 56 from 38 balls, while opener Evin Lewis and Tristan Stubbs chipped in with 39 runs apiece.

The match also held special significance as 41-year-old Dwayne Bravo, the tournament’s all-time leading wicket-taker and a five-time CPL champion, had announced earlier in the day that this would be his final CPL season.

In a heartfelt Instagram post, Bravo reflected on his illustrious career.

“It’s been a great journey. This season will be my last one and I’m looking forward to playing my final professional tournament in front of my Caribbean people. TKR is where everything started for me and will end with my team.”

Although Bravo went wicketless in his three overs, he, along with Narine, managed to keep the run rate under control, with Narine claiming two for 24 in his four overs.

Pooran, despite falling short of a century, could take solace in his match-winning performance.

“At the end of the day, I want to win matches and tournaments. I want to win the CPL and to do that, I need to keep doing my job,” said Pooran.