Barbados Royals down Patriots to continue winning ways in CPL 2022

Cheered on by a massive crowd filled with Guyana’s youth, the Barbados Royals made a fitting tribute to their home nation for ‘Barbados Day’ with a thumping victory against the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EBD).

Despite losing their captain David Miller and batsman Quinton de Kock to international duties, the Barbados Royals made it 8 wins from 9 games after they bowled out the Patriots for 120, to win by 36 runs.
Losing the toss and having to bat first, it was a tough start for the Royals, as their usually formidable opening partnership was broken for just 22 runs. First Rahkeem Cornwall went for six runs, then new Captain Kyle Mayers departed for 16, leaving the Royals unstable at 46-2.
Harry Tector took it almost one ball at a time for his 47 off 44, but Azam Khan brought the fireworks to Providence with 64 off 42, consisting of 5 fours and 5 sixes.

Duan Jansen, Akila Dananjaya and Dwayne Bravo each took one wicket, accounting for Cornwall, Mayers and Khan respectively; but a quick-fire 8 from 3 from Jason Holder capped off the innings and got the Royals to 156-3.
In reply, the ‘spice man’ Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis began well for the Patriots, making the pitch look easy-peasy. Fletcher was the first to go, for 20 runs, and local boy Sherfane Rutherford followed shortly after, only getting to 9 from 15.
Dewald Brevis looked promising after smashing Hayden Walsh Jr. for back-to-back sixes, but Nyeem Young took revenge for Barbados in the following over by not only sending Brevis back to the dugout for 21 from 16, but a juggle from Cornwall off his bowling also saw the demise of Darren Bravo.
The Patriots started to collapse on themselves as another pair of wickets fell in the following over off Holder’s bowling. By the 19th over, the Patriots needed 39 from the remaining 6, with one wicket in hand, just after their captain Dwayne Bravo was run out.
Nyeem Young cleaned up Dananjaya in the third ball of the 20th to plummet the Patriots’ run rate as a result of being bowled out.

Inside Captain Mayers’s mind
New Barbados Royals Captain Kyle Mayers had a lot to share following his team’s 8th victory in this year’s CPL preliminary stage. Beginning with their performance on the field on Wednesday, Mayers praised the Royals for their all-round effort. “It been a good performance, you know, we batted in some tough conditions earlier and we got to see guys who came in for the big players who are missing. You know, Harry, he did well, and Azam getting the opportunity to bat early today for the first time in this tournament, so it’s been good,” the Barbados Royals Captain said.
He continued, “The guys fight it through with the bat and then to see us pull it off with the ball, it’s been phenomenal. We always believe that we can win the games, no matter what, and that fighting spirit was right through. So, well done to the guys.”
With one more game against the Amazon Warriors before they head into the playoff, Mayers figures that the impressive performance of those coming in to replace Miller and de Kock augurs well for the team’s playoff chances.
Mayers commented, “As the Coach keeps stressing, you know, we have a very good team. Guys coming off the bench and performing speaks volumes for us. Guys willing to go out there and perform, you know, competition is tight, spoiled for choices on the field when it comes to the ball, and the guys been batting well throughout the season. Just need to continue for when the playoffs start, and hopefully we can continue this momentum.”

Answering a probe from Guyanese media about the pitch, that appears unorthodox for Guyana, Mayers says it’s a welcome change.
“I think it’s a decent surface. I mean, not ideal for T20 cricket, a bit slow, but I guess it’s the first game. I like the grass on the surface too, as well; some assistance for the fast bowlers.”
He further stated, “Normally, when you come to Guyana, people just think about spin. I thought fast bowlers did well today. That’s good going into the playoffs. People tend to pack the team up with spinners, thinking when they come to Guyana it’s a spin-fest, but to have grass on the wicket and surface it’s always good. Speaks volumes for Guyana’s cricket.”