BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – In a pulsating clash at Kensington Oval, the Trinbago Knight Riders pulled off a stunning two-wicket victory, ending the Barbados Royals’ unbeaten streak in the Caribbean Premier League.
In a match that swung back and forth, it was Terrance Hinds who delivered the knockout blow, smashing a six off the penultimate ball to secure victory for the Knight Riders, chasing down 156 in dramatic fashion on Friday.
After Rovman Powell led a late resurgence to push the Royals to a competitive 156 for seven, the Knight Riders appeared to be on the back foot. But Hinds capitalized on a costly no-ball by Jason Holder, launching the free hit back over the bowler’s head for a massive six that sealed a remarkable win in front of a stunned home crowd.
The Royals, having been sent in to bat, struggled initially with a shaky start. Rahkeem Cornwall‘s lean patch continued, as he fell for a first-ball duck, edging Akeal Hosein behind in the first over. Alick Athanaze followed soon after, trapped lbw without scoring, leaving the Royals reeling at 2-1.
Steadied the ship
Quinton de Kock and Rivaldo Clarke then steadied the ship with a 53-run partnership in six overs. De Kock, striking 39 off 21 balls, was the driving force before being bowled by Waqar Salamkheil, who went on to claim three wickets in a superb spell of 3-13. Clarke, struggling to find rhythm, holed out for 18, and with Jason Holder dismissed for a duck, the Royals found themselves in deep trouble at 71 for five by the 11th over.
While David Miller (19) and Keshav Maharaj (14) made modest contributions, it was Powell who provided the late fireworks. Blasting 28 runs off the final two overs, including five sixes, Powell powered the Royals to a defendable total. He finished unbeaten on 59 off 38 balls, a captain’s knock that gave the Royals a fighting chance.
However, the Knight Riders’ chase got off to a disastrous start, with Sunil Narine falling on the very first ball of the innings, caught at mid-off by Powell off Maheesh Theekshana. Soon after, Jason Roy departed for just nine, trapped lbw by Theekshana, leaving the Knight Riders at 11-2.
Despite the early blows, the Knight Riders rebuilt through Shaqkere Parris (35), Nicholas Pooran (35), and Keacy Carty (32). Their solid middle-order partnerships shifted the momentum, taking the visitors to 106 for three by the 14th over. But Theekshana returned to break the stand, dismissing Parris and triggering a collapse. The Knight Riders lost four wickets for 30 runs, including the prized scalp of captain Kieron Pollard for just three, leaving them at a precarious 136 for seven with only an over remaining.
Reignited the chase
With the game on the line, it was Akeal Hosein who reignited the chase, hitting four boundaries in a quickfire 20 off 10 balls. But with 11 runs needed off the final over, Holder appeared to swing the match back in the Royals’ favor, dismissing Hosein with a catch at deep midwicket. With six runs required off two balls, Holder’s next delivery—a waist-high no-ball—proved disastrous, as Jayden Seales scrambled for a single, allowing Hinds to take the strike.
On the free hit, Hinds sent the crowd into a stunned silence, launching the ball for six and sparking wild celebrations in the Knight Riders’ camp. It was a thrilling end to a topsy-turvy contest, handing the Royals their first defeat of the season.
“I just backed myself in the moment,” said a jubilant Hinds after the match. “The pressure was on, but I knew if I got a good swing, we could win it.”
For the Royals, Theekshana was the standout with figures of 3-26, while Obed McCoy chipped in with 2-30. But it wasn’t enough to stop a determined Knight Riders side that clawed their way back from the brink to snatch a famous victory.
