BRIDGETOWN – Rahkeem Cornwall delivered his best-ever T20 bowling performance, propelling the Barbados Royals to a commanding nine-wicket victory over the floundering St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League at Kensington Oval on Tuesday.
Returning to the line-up after being dropped in the previous match, Cornwall took a stunning 5-16 from his four overs, a spell that restricted the Patriots to a mere 110 runs in 19.1 overs. His sensational display earned him the Player-of-the-Match award, and the Royals made light work of the modest target, reaching 113 for one in 11.2 overs with in-form opener Quinton de Kock hammering an unbeaten half-century.
The Royals’ comprehensive win solidified their top position in the standings, now boasting 10 points from six games, while the Patriots languish at the bottom, managing only one win in their eight outings.
A resounding statement
The night, however, belonged to Cornwall, who had struggled earlier in the tournament but made a resounding statement with his five-wicket haul. His bowling brilliance followed early inroads made by fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq, who removed the dangerous Evin Lewis for six and Kyle Mayers for three, leaving the Patriots reeling at 38 for two by the sixth over.
From there, Cornwall dominated, taking five of the next six wickets to fall. His very first delivery of the night proved pivotal as Andre Fletcher, the Patriots’ captain, misjudged a charge down the wicket and was stumped for the top score of 32. Cornwall struck again with the next ball, as new batsman Mikyle Louis ballooned an attempted big shot, only for Quinton de Kock to take a simple catch at point, reducing the Patriots to 49 for four.
Though Obed McCoy chipped in by dismissing Rilee Rossouw for nine, Cornwall continued to torment the Patriots. Wanindu Hasaranga’s attempted slog sweep was caught by Royals’ captain Rovman Powell at cover for 10, and Odean Smith nicked a drive to first slip, where Powell again completed the catch, leaving the Patriots teetering at 65 for seven.
Cornwall completed his maiden five-wicket haul in T20 cricket when he had Ryan John caught by Alick Athanaze at deep midwicket for just one, as the Patriots slumped to 69 for eight. Lower-order contributions from Joshua Da Silva (25 from 29 balls) and tail-ender Anrich Nortje (22 from 17 balls) managed to push the total past 100, but it was far from enough as Naveen-ul-Haq (3-21) and McCoy (2-11) wrapped up the innings.
Ruthless efficiency
In response, the Royals chased down the modest total with ruthless efficiency. De Kock, fresh off a century in his previous match against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, scored an unbeaten 59 from 38 balls, including four sixes and three fours, while Alick Athanaze chipped in with an unbeaten 22 from 15 balls.
De Kock and opener Kadeem Alleyne quickly set the tone, taking 18 runs off Anrich Nortje in his second over, and racing to 49 without loss after five overs. Alleyne was the only casualty, falling lbw for 25 after missing a sweep shot off Hasaranga, but by then, the damage was done.
De Kock brought up his half-century in the 10th over with a single to point, securing his third score over 50 in this year’s tournament. He and Athanaze guided the Royals home with 52 balls to spare, keeping them comfortably on top of the CPL standings.
