CPL 2017, Match 16, SNP vs BT, Review: St. Kitts beat Barbados by 17 runs in a rain hit encounter

Match 16 of the Caribbean Premier League saw St. Kitts Nevis and Patriots face-off with the Barbados Tridents in another important game. This was the first home game for the Chris Gayle led St. Kitts side of this season. The rain intervened the match just as the crowd favourite Gayle was getting into his own and had started to entertain the crowd. There was no further play possible and SNP beat the visitors by 17 runs as per the DLS method.

The home side won the toss and decided to make the first use of the wicket with the ball in hand. They made one change to their side which lost to TKR including the explosive Evin Lewis and dropped Shamarh Brooks. The Tridents too went in with a solitary change from their last game by including Ravi Rampaul in place of Tino Best.

Smith and Williamson opened the innings for the visitors but were dealt with early blows. Williamson and King were dismissed in consecutive overs as Smith opened his arms at the other end. He was particularly severe on Brathwaite who dished him few easy deliveries in the power play but again he too was dismissed by Badree and soon Hosein followed to leave the side reeling at 62/4 in the 8th over.

Counterpunch from the skipper

Kieron Pollard, the skipper, was again left to do the repair work and had to consolidate. In the process, Shoaib Malik lost his wicket to Hasan Ali which again dented the momentum of the innings. But by then Pollard was set and he, along with Pooran took control of the innings. He smashed 6 maximums and a single four and completed his half century in the last over. Tridents posted 168 on the board which is considered a par total thanks to Pollard and Pooran who supported him.

The home side bowled well in patches but were guilty of bowling as many as 8 wides. Nabi was the most economical bowler and Badree picked 2/27.

The chase…

Universe Boss Gayle along with fit again Evin Lewis started the chase for St. Kitts. But the chase was dented early by Hosein in the first over as Lewis was caught by substitute Jacobs. Though, Gayle looked unperturbed by that and started to hit the boundaries at will. Malik too joined in on with the action and started playing his shots. The chase entered the 10th over and rain started and players had to go off. The rain never relented and the officials had to call off the match which was shaping up to be a Gayle special.

Hosts were ahead after 9.3 overs when the play stopped with the score of 84/1 by 17 runs according to DLS method and were declared winners. Gayle remained not out on 38 off 25 with 4 fours and 2 huge sixes. Malik scored 30 off 29 and supported his skipper well. Tridents didn’t bowl well enough and like their opponents were guilty of too many extras which relented the pressure. Kieron Pollard was awarded the Man of the match for his brilliant 63*.

St. Kitts are now second in the points table with 8 points after 5 matches and are looking good for the playoffs. Barbados though, need to dig deep now in the second half of the tournament as they have won just 2 games out of 5 and are fourth in the table. The Gayle led side has a quick turn around as they will play St. Lucia Stars tomorrow while Tridents will face Guyana Amazon Warriors after a day off.

Brief Scores:

Barbados Tridents 168/6 in 20 overs (K Pollard 63 (40b, 1×4, 6×6); D Smith 33 (16b, 5×4, 2×6); Samuel Badree 2/27, Hasan Ali 2/24)

St. Kitts Nevis and Patriots 84/1 in 9.3 overs (C Gayle 38 (25b, 4×4, 2×6); S Malik 30 (29b, 4×4, 0×6); Akeal Hosein 1/24)

St. Kitts Nevis and Patriots won by 17 runs (DLS Method)