Rain has the final word as Kingsmen sink Knight Riders at Queen’s Park Oval
Key Points(5)
- Just when the Trinbago Knight Riders appeared poised for a grandstand finish, the weather intervened and handed the Jamaica Kingsmen a victory they were more than willing to accept.
- Persistent showers brought an abrupt end to Saturday night’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) contest at Queen’s Park Oval, with the Kingsmen declared seven-run winners under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method.
- The result deepened the Knight Riders’ disappointing campaign, leaving them with four defeats from six matches.
- Jamaica, meanwhile, strengthened its position with a fourth victory in eight games.
- Narine and Munro ignite a blistering start For much of the first half of the contest, Trinbago appeared to be in complete command.
Just when the Trinbago Knight Riders appeared poised for a grandstand finish, the weather intervened and handed the Jamaica Kingsmen a victory they were more than willing to accept.
Persistent showers brought an abrupt end to Saturday night’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) contest at Queen’s Park Oval, with the Kingsmen declared seven-run winners under the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern method.
The result deepened the Knight Riders’ disappointing campaign, leaving them with four defeats from six matches. Jamaica, meanwhile, strengthened its position with a fourth victory in eight games.
Narine and Munro ignite a blistering start
For much of the first half of the contest, Trinbago appeared to be in complete command.
Sunil Narine and Colin Munro tore into the Kingsmen attack during an opening partnership worth 101 runs in fewer than nine overs, immediately raising the prospect of a total beyond 200.
Narine needed little time to find his range. After the Knight Riders managed 11 runs from the opening two overs, the left-hander took 10 from Keemo Paul’s next over, launching a four and a six.
The assault intensified in the sixth over when Saim Ayub was taken for 21 runs, including a six and three boundaries.
Narine then turned his attention to wrist-spinner Vitel Lawes, clearing the ropes twice in the eighth over before reaching his second consecutive half-century from only 23 deliveries.
Two fours and a six against Paul in the ninth over pushed Trinbago beyond 100, but the momentum changed dramatically moments later.
Paul struck back, and Odean Smith completed a spectacular catch at mid-off to remove Narine for 53 from 24 balls. His explosive innings contained six fours and three sixes.
Lawes turns the game on its head
Narine’s departure triggered a collapse that threatened to derail the Knight Riders’ imposing start.
Lawes emerged as the chief architect of the turnaround and ultimately earned Player-of-the-Match honors.
He first removed Munro, who was caught behind for 52 from 42 balls, before producing an even bigger blow by dismissing Kieron Pollard for a first-ball duck.
Matthew Tromp followed without scoring, leaving the Knight Riders reeling at 120 for four after 14 overs.
Suddenly, the 200-plus total that had seemed inevitable was no longer within reach.
Nicholas Pooran steadied the innings with an unbeaten 60 from 37 balls, striking five fours and three sixes. His composed effort helped Trinbago recover to 180 for six from its 20 overs.
But after such a devastating opening assault, the Knight Riders could reasonably have expected more.
Lawes finished with 3-29, while Hunain Shah claimed 2-27.
Kingsmen absorb early blow, then take control
Jamaica’s reply began awkwardly when Maaz Sadaqat fell cheaply with the score on 18.
Kirk McKenzie and Keacy Carty, however, restored order.
The pair added 50 for the second wicket, moving the Kingsmen to 68 for one after eight overs and rebuilding the chase with measured aggression.
McKenzie eventually departed for 30 from 25 deliveries when Goolie struck, but the wicket did little to disrupt Jamaica’s momentum.
Carty immediately found another dependable partner in Saim Ayub, and together they added 52 runs to put the Kingsmen firmly in command.
By the time Carty attempted to increase the tempo, Jamaica had positioned itself within sight of victory.
Rain ends the contest at the crucial moment
Carty’s attempt to accelerate brought his innings to an end when Usman Tariq bowled him for 42 from 33 balls.
Rovman Powell walked in with the Kingsmen at 127 for three in the 15th over, but the Jamaica captain barely had time to settle.
He faced only two deliveries.
The second included a boundary off Narine, and ultimately became the final ball of the match.
The rain returned for a second time, forcing the players from the field. This time, there would be no comeback.
With Jamaica seven runs ahead of the required DLS target, the Kingsmen were confirmed as winners.
Ayub remained unbeaten on 24 from 18 deliveries, having played an important supporting role during the decisive partnership with Carty.
For the Knight Riders, Goolie was the leading bowler with 2-30.
The result will sting for Trinbago, which had recovered from an explosive start by Narine and Munro only to see Lawes seize control, and then watch the weather bring the curtain down before the home side could complete its fightback.
For Jamaica, the circumstances may have been unusual, but the reward was unmistakable: a fourth win of the campaign and another valuable step forward in the CPL race.
