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Kieron Pollard’s side are the Knight Riders. But on Sunday night in Match 25 of the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League at the BCLA in Tarouba, Andre Fletcher’s Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots were the runaway horses.
They started like a high-speed train and stopped a mere seven runs away from 200.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images
No team has ever got more than 169 runs to win at this venue. So? How many teams have had a batting line-up like Pollard’s?
The Patriots made all the early running. In vain.
Fletcher was at the wicket for the first ball. He struck the last ball of the innings down the throat of his opposite number at long-on. In between, he started slowly—15 off his first 18 balls—letting Kyle Mayers make the early running.
Their second-wicket partnership ended one short of 100.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images
When the left-hander left, Fletcher cut loose, getting to his 19th CPL half-century and adding 63 with Mikyle Louis for the fourth wicket. He finished on 93, leapfrogging Johnson Charles as the highest CPL run-scorer.
Mayers came to the wicket when Evin Lewis went—not for the first time this season, very early. Striking his first ball for an authoritative four through the covers, he raced to his eighth CPL half-century off just 18 balls.
He only got 10 off the next 12, though, his 60 off 30 balls decorated with eight fours and three sixes, all sweetly timed.
But in the end, it came to naught. The had the wind in their sails for much of the evening and they thought that, for the second time this season, heir ship was coming in. But it arguably ran aground on the shoals of missed opportunities.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images
Jason Roy has not been in his best form this season. On Sunday, it was a horse of a different colour. His 53 came off only 26 balls and he finished on 64 off 34.
Four times Nicholas Pooran offered chances, four times the Patriots refused to accept them. He rode his luck. To an unbeaten 93. Off 43 balls.
And took TKR across the line to a win by seven wickets.
A reminder to everyone, including the Saint Lucia Kings whom they meet at the same venue on Tuesday morning, that the time to be in front is at the end.
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/CPL T20 via Getty Images
Summarised scores
Toss: Trinbago Knight Riders
Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots: 193 for 4 (20 overs) Andre Fletcher 93, Kyle Mayers 60, Rilee Rossouw 20; Chris Jordan 2/29
Trinbago Knight Riders: 197 for 3 (18.3 overs) Nicholas Pooran 93*, Jason Roy 64; Kyle Mayers 1/26
Man-of-the-Match: Nicholas Pooran
Result: Trinbago Knight Riders win by 7 wickets
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | No result | Points |
| — | ||||||
| 1 | SLK | 8 | 6 | 2 | — | 12 |
| — | ||||||
| 2 | GAW | 7 | 5 | 2 | — | 10 |
| 3 | BR | 8 | 5 | 3 | — | 10 |
| 4 | TKR | 7 | 5 | 2 | — | 10 |
| 5 | ABF | 10 | 3 | 7 | — | 6 |
| 6 | STKNP | 9 | 1 | 8 | — | 2 |
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