Narine turns back the clock as Knight Riders crush Tridents at Queen’s Park Oval
Key Points(5)
- Sunil Narine produced the kind of performance that has defined his remarkable career, dismantling the Barbados Tridents with the ball before returning to unleash another assault with the bat.
- The 38-year-old all-rounder was at the heart of the Trinbago Knight Riders’ emphatic seven-wicket victory over the Tridents in Friday night’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) contest at Queen’s Park Oval.
- The defending champions never allowed Barbados to settle, strangling the Tridents into a below-par 127 for nine before making the chase look almost effortless.
- Narine then capped his evening by helping manufacture 55 runs during a spectacular 96-run opening stand with Colin Munro, the highest first-wicket partnership of the tournament so far.
- Pooran’s spin gamble pays off Nicholas Pooran wasted little time imposing his tactical stamp on the game.
Sunil Narine produced the kind of performance that has defined his remarkable career, dismantling the Barbados Tridents with the ball before returning to unleash another assault with the bat.
The 38-year-old all-rounder was at the heart of the Trinbago Knight Riders’ emphatic seven-wicket victory over the Tridents in Friday night’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) contest at Queen’s Park Oval.
The defending champions never allowed Barbados to settle, strangling the Tridents into a below-par 127 for nine before making the chase look almost effortless.
Narine then capped his evening by helping manufacture 55 runs during a spectacular 96-run opening stand with Colin Munro, the highest first-wicket partnership of the tournament so far.
Pooran’s spin gamble pays off
Nicholas Pooran wasted little time imposing his tactical stamp on the game.
After winning the toss and choosing to field, the Knight Riders captain turned immediately to spin, flooding the PowerPlay with slower options on a surface that offered substantial turn.
The gamble worked.
Barbados could manage only 31 for one during the first six overs, struggling to generate momentum against a disciplined attack and an aggressive field.
Pooran's field placements added another layer of pressure. Kieron Pollard was stationed in attacking positions such as silly point and short leg, keeping the Tridents' batters under constant threat.
Usman Tariq was particularly impressive.
The spinner conceded just 11 runs from his spell and claimed the important wicket of Zachary Carter, who had shown promise before departing for 28.
Then came Narine.
Narine turns the clock back
Narine’s four-over spell was a reminder of his enduring class.
He conceded only 14 runs while taking two wickets, helping the Knight Riders maintain control as Barbados repeatedly lost wickets during the middle overs.
Chris Green attempted to hold the innings together, producing a determined 27 before Pollard deceived him with a slower delivery.
Rivaldo Clarke supplied some late resistance, helping Barbados cross the 120-run mark, but the Tridents eventually finished at 127 for nine.
On a difficult pitch, it was always going to be a challenging total to defend.
The Knight Riders were about to make that painfully clear.
Narine and Munro blow the chase open
Any possibility that Barbados might make the target competitive disappeared almost immediately.
Narine and Munro attacked from the outset, racing to 60 without loss during the PowerPlay.
Narine, having already dominated with the ball, now transformed himself into an explosive opening batsman.
The veteran took the attack apart with a succession of powerful strokes, igniting the Queen’s Park Oval crowd and putting the chase firmly on the Knight Riders’ terms.
Munro provided the ideal complement, and together the pair produced a 96-run opening partnership, the best first-wicket stand of the tournament to that point.
Green eventually ended the partnership by dismissing Munro for 37, but the breakthrough came far too late to change the outcome.
Tridents find only consolation
Barbados managed to collect two more wickets late in the innings, with Narine eventually falling and Pooran departing for 12.
But by then, the Knight Riders were comfortably positioned to finish the job.
Kieron Pollard and Jyd Goolie took care of the remaining runs, guiding the defending champions across the finish line with plenty of time to spare.
Narine’s contribution stood at the center of the victory: two wickets for 14 runs and a destructive opening contribution that helped make the chase a procession.
For a Knight Riders side in need of momentum, the timing could hardly have been better.
