CPL 2023: TKR bounce back as Patriots remain winless

By Brandon Corlette

Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) recorded their first win of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL). TKR won match 12 by six wickets against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots at Warner Park, St Kitts.
Nicholas Pooran led TKR’s chase with an impressive 61 as TKR cruised to 180-4 in 17.1 overs. Patriots had posted 178-5, with Sherfane Rutherford scoring a fine half-century as captain.
In the chase of 179, TKR lost Chadwick Walton (06) and Martin Guptill (07) early. Pooran and Lorcan Tucker then joined forces and took the game away from Patriots.

The left-handed Pooran was all class as he reached his ninth CPL fifty from 27 balls, with back-to-back sixes from leg-spinner Izharulhaq Naveed. Corbin Bosch then turned the match around with the big wicket of Pooran at 105-3 in 11.3 overs. Pooran had struck 61 from 32 balls, an innings laced with four sixes and five fours.
After the 66-run stand between Pooran and Tucker, Captain Kieron Pollard came to the crease. Pollard slammed four sixes in four balls against Naveed to put TKR in the driver’s seat. Tucker lost his wicket to the probing Bosch for 36 at 148-4. Pollard (37 not out) and Russell (23 not out) ensured TKR registered their first win of the season. Bosch was the best bowler with 3-22 for Patriots.

Earlier, TKR won the toss and opted to bowl first in the final match in St Kitts and Nevis. Patriots had a change of captain with the Guyanese Rutherford leading in the place of Evin Lewis.
The Patriots had a solid start, adding 50 runs in the powerplay. Fletcher was at his aggressive and classy best. Lewis was dismissed the first ball Dwayne Bravo bowled at 43-1 in 4.1 overs. Fletcher was then bowled by Bravo for 32 from 17 balls, after hitting three sixes and three fours.
Joshua Da Silva (18) and Jyd Goolie (11) had a slow partnership and the former departed with Patriots on 73-3 after 9.3 overs. Captain Rutherford and Corbin Bosch rebuilt the innings as the Patriots eyed a strong finish.

The duo added 66 runs for the fifth wicket, before Bosch was removed by the impressive Sunil Narine, who finished with 3-24 from four overs. The South African Bosch struck three fours and one six in his 30 from 21 balls.
At 152-5 after 18 overs, Rutherford was key for Patriots. The ruthless and responsible Rutherford reached his fifty from 35 balls, to propel Patriots to 178-5 in 20 overs. Rutherford finished on 62 from 38 balls, after being on 23 from 23 balls. He slammed five sixes and four fours.

TKR were penalised for a slow over rate and as a result, they were forced to send a fielder off. The teams will now travel to Barbados for the third leg of CPL 2023. Matches will continue on August 30 with Barbados Royals hosting TKR from 19:00h.