RBCPL24: Pooran bats lights out again but Royals send TKR home

Fresh from his stellar 101 against the Guyana Amazon Warriors in Match 30 of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL), Nicholas Pooran damblayed his impressive run-scoring form in the playoffs on Tuesday evening.

But it was all in vain. Man-of-the-Match David Miller struck eight mighty blows, five of them sixes and three of them fours to take Barbados Royals past the 60 runs they needed off five overs.

Trinbago Knight Riders batsman Nicholas Pooran smashes the ball to the boundary during Republic Bank CPL Eliminator action at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on 1 October 2024.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images

And just like that, TKR were packing their bags and heading home after Day One of the playoffs.

Miller strode to the middle with the score at 5 for 1. Another failure for talisman Quinton de Kock, who was bowled by a fit-again Sunil Narine’s third ball. He wasted no time, clouting the second ball he faced over the boundary for 6.

He lost his skipper Rovman Powell temporarily in the net over, caught and bowled by Chris Jordan—off a no-ball!

After that, Miller (50, 17, 5×6, 3×4) and Powell (9, 8, 1×6) never put a foot wrong, the latter giving the former the strike whenever possible and Miller capitalising.

Barbados Royals batsmen David Miller (left) and Rovman Powell exchange pleasantries during Republic Bank CPL Eliminator action against the Trinbago Knight Riders at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on 1 October 2024.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images

With eight needed off the last over, Pollard turned to Terrance Hinds, hoping against Hope that he would be as good as he was against GAW on Sunday.

He was not. Miller dispatched his first two balls for maximums to send Pollard’s men home empty-handed for yet another year.

Pooran, who had already made history on Friday when he overtook Pakistan’s Mohammad Rizwan 2021 2,036 tally to become T20 cricket’s  highest run-getter in a calendar year, got to his half-century off 38 balls, his 15th in T20s for the year.

But unlike on Sunday, he did not contrive to reach the mark inside the powerplay, not getting there until over #13.

Trinbago Knight Riders batsman Nicholas Pooran sets off for a run while Barbados Royals wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock watches on during Republic Bank CPL Eliminator action at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on 1 October 2024.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images

Still, when a power failure knocked out the lights in one of the pylons with just five balls left in the innings, he had progressed to 91 (60 balls, 5×6, 6×4), only nine runs away from a second successive CPL century.

And en route, he had leapfrogged Quinton de Kock as the 2024 tournament’s leading scorer, his 504 aggregate well past his previous best season tally.


Back at the top of the order after recovering from his slight injury, Sunil Narine forced his in-form left-handed compatriot to make another early entrance. Narine was completely flummoxed by a Maheesh Theekshana off-spinner in the first over of the game and lost his leg-stump.

With almost the full 20 overs to bat, Pooran eschewed the aggressive approach that brought him so much success against GAW and opted for early  circumspection. He and the off-colour Jason Roy (25 off 17) took only 24 off the first four overs and then one less off the fifth, bowled by Jason Holder.

Barbados Royals captain Rovman Powell (left) and Trinbago Knight Riders players Nicholas Pooran (right) and Chris Jordan wait for a faulty light to be sorted out during Republic Bank CPL Eliminator action at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on 1 October 2024.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images

But Roy fell in the last over of the powerplay and Pollard (17 off 19, promoting himself to number 4, couldn’t find his rhythm on the night. He was bowled all over the shop by a slower ball from Emerging Player Ramon Simmonds.

With Pollard gone at 101 for 3 in the 13th over, Pooran and Andre Russell finally found their footing and powered their way to 168 without further loss before partial darkness descended, forcing a prolonged hour-plus stoppage.

The physical lights came back on to allow Miller to shine.

Barbados Royals batsman David Miller lets loose during Republic Bank CPL Eliminator action against the Trinbago Knight Riders at the Guyana National Stadium in Providence on 1 October 2024.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images

But for Pollard and his Knights, it remained a very dark night.

Summarised scores

Toss: Trinbago Knight Riders

Trinbago Knight Riders: 168 for 3 (19.1 overs) Nicholas Pooran 91*, Jason Roy 25, Andre Russell 20*; Naveen-ul-Haq 1/25

Barbados Royals: 64 for 1 (4.2 overs) David Miller 50; Sunil Narine 1/22

Man-of-the-Match: David Miller

Result: Barbados Royals win by 9 wkts (DLS)

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