Mitchell Santner and Jason Holder’s all-round exploits helped defending Carribean Premier League T20 champions Barbados Tridents hold their nerve to register a close six-run win against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the CPL T20 encounter played at the Brian Lara stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad on Tuesday evening. In the other game, Trinbago Knight Riders came out on top in a rain-affected encounter against Guyana Amazon Warriors as they won the match by four wickets with just two balls to spare.
In the first-match of the day, rain played spoilsport as the Trinbago Knight Riders vs Guyana Amazon Warriors game was reduced to a 17-overs-a-side game. Trinbago Knight Riders chose to field and immediately they had success when Sunil Narine and Ali Khan dismissed Brandon King and Chanderpaul Hemraj. However, Shimron Hetmyer and Ross Taylor shared a 50-run partnership. Taylor was the aggressor as he launched Jayden Seales for a six and a four but Narine once again broke the stand as Guyana Amazon Warriors struggled for momentum. Shimron Hetmyer batted aggressively and he found good support in Nicholas Pooran, who smashed a six and four off Dwayne Bravo. Hetmyer batted through and notched up his fifty with a six off Seales and he ended it with another six and four off Bravo as Guyana Amazon Warriors finished on 144/5.
In response, Trinbago Knight Riders started steadily but they lost Lendl Simmons before the end of the powerplay. Colin Munro and Narine cut loose and they regularly cleared the fence. Narine smashed two sixes off Romario Shepherd. The 26-ball fifty from Narine put Trinbago Knight Riders on top but Guyana Amazon Warriors struck back with quick wickets. However, Darren Bravo held his nerve and he sealed the game with a boundary with two balls to spare.
Barbados Tridents survive
In the other game, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots chose to field and they had Barbados Tridents on the ropes when Johnson Charles, Shai Hope and Corey Anderson all perished cheaply. However, Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder stitched a crucial partnership, with Mayers showing his intent with two fours and a six off Sohail Tanvir. Holder hit a six but Mayers continued the onslaught with two sixes of Alzarri Joseph. Holder hit two sixes off Ish Sodhi but St Kitts and Nevis Patriots struck back with two quick wickets. Some gritty batting by Mitchell Santner and Rashid Khan helped Barbados Tridents cross 150.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots started aggressively with Chris Lynn striking boundaries but Santner bowled a maiden and removed the dangerous Lynn as Evin Lewis also struggled to get going. Ben Dunk and Joshua Da Silva shared a 60-run stand and steadied the innings but Santner struck again, removing Dunk for 34.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots needed 31 off 18 balls but Rashid Khan struck twice in the 18th over and they never recovered. With 20 runs needed off the last over, Sohail Tanvir tried his best but Barbados Tridents ended up winning the match by six runs.
