Nicholas Pooran capitalized on multiple dropped chances to deliver a dazzling, unbeaten 93 from just 43 deliveries, as the Trinbago Knight Riders knocked out the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots from the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a resounding seven-wicket triumph on Sunday night.
Pooran was gifted four lives by a sloppy Patriots’ fielding display, which contributed to their ninth consecutive defeat in what has been a disappointing campaign. Despite posting an imposing total of 193 for four from their allotted 20 overs, their lackluster fielding saw them fail to defend the target, concluding the season at the bottom of the standings with just one win from 10 matches.
The Patriots’ batting effort had been impressive, with Andre Fletcher leading the charge with a blazing 93 from 61 balls, including six sixes and four fours, while Kyle Mayers contributed a quickfire 60 off 30 balls, hitting eight boundaries and three sixes. Their second-wicket stand of 99 runs in just nine overs had put the Patriots in a commanding position after losing opener Evin Lewis early in the innings.
Mayers showcased his aggressive intent by launching a furious assault on Jayden Seales and Andre Russell, dispatching boundaries at will. His half-century came up in just 18 balls, marked by three consecutive fours and a massive six off Dwayne Bravo in the sixth over, which yielded 19 runs.
A stunning catch
The Patriots’ momentum, however, faltered slightly when Mayers fell to a stunning catch by Chris Jordan, reducing the score to 101 for two in the 11th over. Although Rilee Rossouw added a brisk 20 off 11 balls, Fletcher continued his onslaught, guiding the Patriots to a formidable total with support from Mikyle Louis, who remained unbeaten on 10.
Fletcher brought up his half-century off 41 balls by driving Bravo for two runs before cutting loose in the final stages, smashing Waqar Salamkheil for a six and two fours in the 16th over. He eventually fell to Jordan off the last ball of the innings after hammering a six and four in the final over.
Jordan finished as the standout bowler for the Knight Riders, claiming two wickets for 29 runs.
In response, the Knight Riders made a steady start to their chase, with Jason Roy and Keacy Carty putting on 43 in the first five overs. Mayers provided a breakthrough by removing Carty with his medium pace, paving the way for Pooran to step in and take control.
Wasted no time getting into his groove
Pooran wasted no time getting into his groove, taking on Tabraiz Shamsi and Jeremiah Louis with some powerful hitting. However, he was fortunate to remain at the crease after being dropped four times by the Patriots’ fielders. His first reprieve came when he was on 21, as wicketkeeper Joshua Da Silva spilled a catch off Shamsi’s bowling. Two balls later, Mikyle Louis missed a chance after Pooran top-edged a delivery from Jeremiah Louis.
Pooran’s fortune continued as Dominic Drakes dropped a challenging catch at mid-off when he was on 36, and Drakes spilled another opportunity to dismiss him on 47, both chances coming off the unlucky Jeremiah Louis.
Making the Patriots pay for their blunders, Pooran brought up his half-century off 32 balls with a boundary off Anrich Nortje, and from there, he unleashed a flurry of sixes. He clobbered Jeremiah Louis for two consecutive sixes in the 17th over and followed up with two more sixes and a four off Nortje in the next over, which went for 17 runs.
Pooran sealed the victory in emphatic fashion, launching Josh Clarkson for a six to finish unbeaten on 93, including seven sixes and four boundaries, as the Knight Riders chased down the target with nine balls to spare.
