An unceasing array of orthodox and unorthodox cricket shots to the awe of the spectators was what Nicholas Pooran had to offer in a savage knock which saw the ball dispatched to all corners of the Kensington Oval as he propelled Barbados Tridents to a comfortable 25-run victory over St. Lucia Zouks in match 18 of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Pooran tore into Zouks’ bowlers striking four thunderous sixes and nine fours in his career best knock of 81 from 39 deliveries. The ever impressive left hander entered the crease in the ninth over with the score on 51-2 and he along with AB de Villiers (32) added 68 runs in a
Nicholas Pooran had a pugnacious innings that set up the massive total for the Tridents
short period.
When de Villiers departed at 119-3 skipper Kieron Pollard (06) joined forces with Pooran and the two took the score to 168 before Pollard
Ravi Rampaul had a devastating and economical spell of fast bowling for the Tridents
was caught off Jerome Taylor’s bowling.
Pooran was dominant throughout his knock and kept the scoreboard ticking until he was run out off the third ball of the final over.
Prior to the 20 year old knock, Kyle Hope (28) and Shoaib Malik set a solid platform of 44 for the opening stand. However, when the two openers departed, de Villiers and Pooran assaulted Zouks’ bowlers to keep Tridents on their way to a competitive score. They fall short of their projected total by some runs but finished on a competitive 173-5 from 20 overs. Taylor was on target for the Zouks, picking up two wickets for 27 runs from his quota of four overs. South African pacer Morne Morkel also bowled well but ended wicket less.
In reply Zouks raced to 29 without loss in 3.2 overs, but when Johnson Charles was dismissed off the third ball of the fourth over, it went downhill for the visitors. Andre Fletcher (20) was the only batsman in the top six to reach twenty while Michael Hussey, David Miller and Darren Sammy all wasted starts as the Zouks slipped to 84-6 in the 14th over.
The visitors’ innings eventually closed at 149-8 off their allotted 20 overs. Discarded West Indies paceman Ravi Rampaul bowled well picking up two wickets at the top of the Zouks innings and was supported by Wayne Parnell who also took two wickets.
Sunday’s victory ended the Tridents home run with two victories, one no-result and one defeat to move to third on the points table with seven points from three wins from six matches. They will now shift their attention to Jamaica where they will play second placed team the Tallawahs on Wednesday.
Meanwhile the Zouks who have played only four matches to date registering only one victory sit in the cellar position on the points table with two points and will play their first game at home on Thursday against the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots who also have two points but have played seven matches.
