Defending champions Saint Lucia Kings now sit alone atop the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) table after a convincing seven-wicket victory over the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on Thursday night.
In front of their home crowd at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, the Kings chased down 178 with 18 balls to spare, capping off a dominant performance built on steady bowling and an explosive batting display.
The match was also a personal milestone for South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, who marked his 300th T20 appearance with a vintage spell, while New Zealander Tim Seifert produced the innings of his CPL career to steer the Kings home.
Patriots set a competitive total
Winning the toss, captain David Wiese opted to bowl first, and his side quickly took control. The Patriots were restricted to 57-1 in the powerplay and just 75-2 at the halfway stage. By the end of the 13th over, their scoring rate was a modest 7.07 runs per over.
Shamsi applied the brakes with a miserly four-over spell that cost just 17 runs and yielded two wickets. But when Oshane Thomas entered the attack, the momentum shifted. The Jamaican pacer leaked 22 runs in a single over—four of them wides—giving the Patriots a much-needed lift. Wiese himself conceded 17 in an over, and Keon Gaston was punished for 32 from two.
The late acceleration came courtesy of Mohammad Rizwan, who smashed an unbeaten 60 from just 21 balls, while former Kings opener Andre Fletcher added a lively 37 from 23. Their efforts carried the Patriots to a strong 177-3.
Charles and Seifert launch the chase
In reply, the Kings wasted no time imposing themselves. Johnson Charles blazed 47 off 17 balls, including a flurry of boundaries that saw the hosts surge to 72 without loss at the end of the powerplay. By the time Charles departed at 85-1, the defending champions were already cruising ahead of the required rate.
Tim Seifert, however, was the heartbeat of the chase. Nicknamed “Bam Bam,” the New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter delivered his highest-ever CPL score—68 from 45 balls. His knock, laced with six fours and four sixes, not only brought up his third CPL fifty but also pushed him past 900 career runs in the league.
Finishing touches
Youngster Ackeem Auguste, fresh off his heroics in the Kings’ previous match, played a brisk cameo of 29 from 20 balls, peppered with boundaries. Tim David and Roston Chase then closed the contest with a rapid 25-run stand off just 14 deliveries, sealing victory with clinical efficiency.
The result completed a double over the Patriots and reinforced the Kings’ credentials as defending champions. With momentum firmly on their side, the Kings will wrap up their home stint on Sunday morning against the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons—the very team they unseated from the top of the standings.
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