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In the opening 2024 Republic Bank CPL match that seesawed wildly from over to over, Antigua and Barbuda Falcons’ teenager Jewel Andrew and medium-pacer Shamar Springer stole the show.
But it was Andre Fletcher’s St Kitts and Nevis Patriots who stole a single off the last ball to win by one wicket at North Sound in Antigua on Thursday night.
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Jewel’s sparkling half-century helped power the ABF newbies to a challenging 163 for 4. And Springer snapped up four wickets and snaffled a flying catch at deep cover to undermine a nascent recovery and put STKNP on the verge of possible defeat.
On a track with no demons, the 164 target at the halfway stage did not look likely to challenge the visitors, given their batting line-up.
But in the powerplay, Fletcher was outfoxed by Imad Wasim and perished. When Springer removed Evin Lewis and Tristan Stubbs in successive overs, STKNP were in a spot of bother.
And when Springer went one better, sending back Odean Smith (27) and Rilee Roussouw (0) in successive balls, the visitors looked deep in the doodoo.
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Off the last six overs, 53 were needed. But top-scorer Kyle Mayers was still there, keeping his head, content to keep the score moving chirrup chirrup and take full advantage of the bad balls.
But after manhandling Mohammad Amir to the tune of 14 runs in the 16th over, he made the mistake of trying to take the aerial route past Springer.
The athletic bowler sprinted to his right, leapt lithely into the air and came down clutching the ball.
Off the last two overs, only ten were needed—with Dominic Drakes and Ryan John at the wicket and Ashmead Nedd, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi still to come.
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Off the first ball of the last over, bowled by Roshon Primus, Drakes lost his head and his wicket. Seven were still needed.
Off the last ball, Nortje and Shamsi knew they needed a single. And they got it.
Earlier, when the Falcons batted, Andrew—days younger than Nicholas Pooran was when he made his CPL debut at the age of 17 years, 300 days—was his side’s top scorer.
His unbeaten 50 featured one six and seven fours, not all of them off the middle of the bat. But ABF skipper Chris Green would have been pleased with the final score after he called incorrectly and Fletcher asked his side to take first strike.
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They lost opener Teddy Bishop before doubles figures were on the board. But by the end of the powerplay, they had got to 57 for 1, led by Pakistani opener Fakar Zaman, who eventually fell for 43 (32b, 5×4, 2×6).
After the powerplay, spinners Nedd and Shamsi took a wicket each and slowed the innings’ progress somewhat, leaving ABF on 86 for 3 after 12 overs.
But coming together at 102 for 4, Andrew and Fabian Allen (24 off 17, 2×6, 1×4) picked up the pace again to give their side a fighting chance.
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The Patriots wobbled in the chase. But on the day, they proved themselves just resilient enough to keep the newcomers winless.
ABF will have a chance to redeem themselves tomorrow when they take on defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors.
The Patriots, savouring their single win which already equals their 2023 tally, will rest and reflect and prepare to spoil Independence Day for Kieron Pollard’s Trinbago Knight Riders with a second successive emphatic victory on Saturday.
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Summarised Scores
Toss: St Kitts and Nevis Patriots
Antigua and Barbuda Falcons: 163 for 4 (20 overs) Jewel Andrew 50*, Fakhar Zaman 43, Fabian Allen 24, Kofi James 22.)
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots: 164 for 9 (20 overs) Kyle Mayers 39, Evin Lewis 29, Odean Smith 27, Andre Fletcher 25; Shamar Springer 4/29, Roshon Primus 2/21)
Man-of-the-Match: Kyle Mayers
Result: St Kitts and Nevis Patriots win by 1 wicket.
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Earl Best taught cricket, French, football and Spanish at QRC for many years and has written consistently for the Tapia and the Trinidad and Tobago Review since the 1970’s.
He is also a former sports editor at the Trinidad Guardian and the Trinidad Express and is now a senior lecturer in Journalism at COSTAATT.
