Darren Bravo is a gifted left-hander who, for years, was the best batsman in the region and a clone of his cousin, Brian Charles Lara, the best batsman the country has produced. But that was once upon a time. Darren Bravo vintage 2021 is not vintage at all. On merit. …
Read More »CPL 2021: How a Champion and a ‘Dom’ gave the Patriots their champagne moment
“[…] Then came the finale, the most thrilling CPL final in the tournament’s nine-year existence. The home upstarts SKN Patriots, representing the Leeward Islands against the dominant St Lucia Kings, representing the Windward Islands. “[…] Videos were out, shade being thrown by all supporters. Memes galore. So much fun and …
Read More »CPL 2021: Anatomy of a cricketing coup; an insider details how the Patriots became kings
“[…] In these smaller islands, the level of insularity in cricket and other sports means that opportunities for our players and athletes are inherently less than those of our more endowed larger island nations of the archipelago. “I was always one to support the underdog against all odds so now …
Read More »CPL 2021: Evin Lewis spoils Hetmyer’s party; Patriots bid to stop Kings in first title battle
It was not even close. A no-contest. Shimron Hetmyer thumped a hat-trick of sixes in the final over to add substance to what would otherwise have been a very undaunting Guyana Amazon Warriors final score. And although it allowed Nicholas Pooran’s soldiers to troop off Warner Park in St Kitts …
Read More »CPL 2021: Evin Lewis gets sweet revenge, clouts unbeaten century vs Pollard’s TKR
If Evin Lewis brings the form he brought to Saturday’s penultimate St Kitts and Nevis Patriots game at Warner Park in St Kitts to Wednesday’s CPL 2021 final, new champions will be crowned. And thanks to a lacklustre showing by Kieron Pollard’s Trinbago Knight Riders in the late game on …
Read More »T2021 W/C: Grant-Perez revisits dream WI team, as Simmons and Gayle make way for CPL stars
“[…] Another ‘king’ whose crown has slipped is Chris Gayle. I made the case for the former heavy-scoring, left-handed opener. Now, I see the light. “It was pure sentimentality that made me want this World Cup to be his swansong; he simply has not earned a place. It was almost …
Read More »T2021 W/C: Abdulah wants Chase, Akeal, Rampaul in his dream WI XI; Gayle, Ramdin get in 15
“[…] At number three, my choice is Roston Chase. He is showing that he can hold an innings together—which is crucial in a team of big hitters—and his run rate is not bad at all. He has good technique, which is crucial in all formats of cricket, T20 included, and …
Read More »CPL 2021: Du Plessis’ century stops Bravo’s Patriots short, gives rising Kings big boost
A sparkling, free-spirited, two-runs-a-ball century partnership between Faf du Plessis and Roston Chase on Saturday gave Dwayne Bravo’s St Kitts and Nevis Patriots little chance to extend their unbeaten run to six games. The margin of defeat was a massive 100 runs. On a flat Warner Park track, the St …
Read More »T2021 W/C: Lord sees value in Cottrell, Fletcher and Narine for WI dreams; but wary of dot balls
“[…] I want at least six bowlers in my XI; you never know when somebody will have an off-day and be offering lollipops to the opposition like if it’s Christmas or Easter or somebody’s birthday. “[…] If Sunil Narine is available—he is featuring in the CPL so…—there is no chance …
Read More »CPL 2021: Allen, Sherfane set St Kitts alight as Bravo’s Patriots thump Tallawahs
The Patriots being the home team, after Wednesday evening’s events at Warner Park in St Kitts, the Caribbean Premier League may well find itself accused of condoning domestic violence. Led by Sherfane Rutherford’s third half-century and with a late 12-ball 30 from Fabian Allen, Dwayne Bravo’s high-flying troops beat the …
Read More »T2021 W/C: MPD selects Hope to open with Lewis in WI XI but Gayle goes only as mentor
“[…] Age catches up with the best of us. In [Chris] Gayle’s case, that has meant waning hand/eye co-ordination, considerably less energy in the field and greater proneness to injury—all factors that have led to inconsistency in scores and fewer innings of note. “The Australia half-century—his first since 2016!—was nothing …
Read More »CPL 2021: Kings hit back with exciting 5-run win as Pollard’s TKR tally 60 dot balls in second loss
So often the hero for Trinbago Knight Riders, Colin Munro could not buy a boundary on a difficult pitch at Warner Park in St Kitts on Sunday morning. And in the end, it cost the defending champions, who went under to lowly St Lucia Kings by five runs in Match …
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