Knight Riders get off to a winning start

A high-scoring encounter at Warner Park saw the Trinbago Knight Riders secure a 44-run victory over the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the third match of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

Patriots captain Andre Fletcher won the toss and opted to field, but the decision backfired as the Knight Riders capitalized on an excellent batting surface. Sunil Narine provided an explosive start, hitting three fours and four sixes, setting the tone for a dominant innings.

Nicholas Pooran was the standout performer, earning the Player of the Match award for his thrilling knock of 97 off just 43 balls. Pooran was well-supported by Keacy Carty, who hammered 73 from 35 deliveries in a powerful display of stroke play. Together, they left the Patriots bowlers struggling, as the ball frequently found the boundary in the small Warner Park ground. Carty sealed the innings in style, hitting the final ball for six to propel the Knight Riders to a mammoth total of 250/4.

In response, the Patriots posted a commendable 206/8, marking the highest-scoring match in CPL history between the two teams. However, despite their efforts, Fletcher’s side never looked like they could overhaul the daunting target.

Before the match, 41-year-old Dwayne Bravo announced that this CPL season would be his last. The tournament’s all-time leading wicket-taker and five-time champion reflected on his career in a social media post, saying, “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 the place where everything started for me and will end with my team.”

Although Bravo went wicketless in his three overs, he and Narine were the most economical bowlers for the Knight Riders. Narine was particularly impressive, claiming 2/24 in his four overs while conceding just three boundaries.

Pooran came agonizingly close to reaching a century, but his attempt to bring up the milestone with a powerful shot off Anrich Nortje fell short, as Dominic Drakes took the catch at deep point. Despite his disappointment, Pooran remained focused on the team’s success, saying, “At the end of the day, I want to win matches and tournaments. I want to win the CPL, and if I want to do that, I need to keep doing my job.”

The Knight Riders’ comprehensive victory marks a strong start to their 2024 CPL campaign, as they look to build momentum for the remainder of the tournament. (PR)

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