The Trinbago Knight Riders delivered a dominant performance, securing a convincing 42-run victory over the Barbados Royals in the 20th match of CPL 2023. The thrilling contest unfolded at Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad.Having been asked to bat first, the Trinbago Knight Riders posted a commanding total of 208/6 in their allotted 20 overs, courtesy of a stellar T20 century by Nicholas Pooran.
Pooran received valuable support from Martin Guptill and Andre Russell, both of whom contributed 30-plus runs to the team’s cause. Jason Holder emerged as the standout bowler for the Royals, claiming two crucial wickets. Kyle Mayers, Qais Ahmad, and Rahkeem Cornwall each managed to take one wicket for their side.
In pursuit of a challenging target of 209 runs, the Barbados Royals could only muster 166/7 in their 20 overs. Kyle Mayers was the top-scorer for the Royals, impressively notching up 70 runs from 45 deliveries. However, he received minimal assistance from the other batters, resulting in the Royals falling short of the target by 42 runs.
For the Trinbago Knight Riders, spinners Akeal Hosein and Waqar Salamkheil stood out with the ball, each claiming two wickets. The Knight Riders demonstrated their prowess on the pitch, solidifying their position as the tournament progresses into its crucial stages.
Following their resounding victory over the Barbados Royals, the Trinbago Knight Riders climbed to the second spot on the CPL 2023 points table. They have secured four wins while enduring two defeats, with one match ending without a result. Currently, they stand at nine points, boasting a positive net run rate of +1.168.
The Guyana Amazon Warriors currently top the table with four wins from five games, positioning themselves as strong contenders in the competition. The Saint Lucia Kings occupy the third spot, having secured three wins and suffered one defeat in six encounters, impressively maintaining a net run rate of +2.338.
Meanwhile, the Barbados Royals slipped to the fourth position, accumulating seven points with a negative net run rate of -1.986. The Jamaica Tallawahs find themselves in fifth place with two wins and three defeats, while the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots languish at the bottom without a single win, holding the wooden spoon.
In individual statistics, Martin Guptill emerged as the current leading run-scorer in the competition. His innings of 38 runs from 30 balls, featuring five fours, helped him claim the top spot. However, his innings came to an end when he was stumped off a wide delivery by Rahkeem Cornwall.
Nicholas Pooran is closely trailing Guptill in the run-scoring chart after delivering a match-winning performance. He achieved his second T20 century, remaining unbeaten with an outstanding 102 runs from 53 balls, including five fours and an incredible 10 sixes. Pooran’s exceptional form continued as he steered his team to victory.
Lorcan Tucker, the Irish keeper-batsman, experienced an end to his consistent run as he managed only eight runs from seven deliveries, featuring one boundary. Qais Ahmad dismissed him during the innings.
Kieron Pollard, the Knight Riders’ skipper, was involved in a run-out mix-up with Pooran and was dismissed for just two runs.
Andre Russell played a crucial supporting role alongside Pooran, amassing 39 runs from 22 deliveries, featuring two fours and four sixes, at a formidable strike rate of 177.27. Furthermore, Russell contributed with the ball, claiming the wicket of Nyeem Young during the Royals’ innings.
