Patriots record 1st win in RBL CPL 2023

– thanks to Fletcher’s fantastic 93

Andre Fletcher has recorded his CPL career-best score of 93 unbeaten runs to help St Kitts and Nevis Patriots record their first win in the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.
In a match played against the St Lucia Kings at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the 35-year-old Fletcher endured the pain of injury to hit a six off the penultimate delivery as Patriots ended their innings on 150-6 after 19.5 overs.
St Lucia Kings had earlier made 149-7 in their 20 overs, with Shadrack Descarte leading the way with a 31-ball 43 and Johnson Charles hitting 42, even as Ashmead Nedd bowled beautifully up front for the Patriots, taking 2-14 from his four overs. Benny Howell also returned impressive figures of 2-31 from his four overs.
Fletcher impressively produced an unbeaten 93 from 64 balls, which included six fours and five sixes, to lead the successful chase for the Patriots. Sherfane Rutherford was the Patriots’ next highest scorer, with 17.
Things had got a bit tricky for the Patriots in the 17th over, when Fletcher picked up a hamstring injury which left him unable to run unimpaired for the remainder of the chase. The chase had seemed comfortable up until the penultimate over from Alzarri Joseph. The Patriots needed just 10 from the final two overs at that point, but a brilliant over from Joseph meant St. Kitts & Nevis would end up needing nine from the last over, with an injured Fletcher and Corbin Bosch at the crease.
Roston Chase was tasked with bowling that last over. The first two balls were hit for singles, before Bosch was dismissed by being caught at deep mid-wicket off the third ball, leaving the Patriots needing seven. Dominic Drakes joined Fletcher at the crease, but was able only to get a single off the fourth ball. Fletcher then ended proceedings with a six off the fifth ball to seal the Patriots’ first win of the season.
Kharry Pierre, Roston Chase and Sikanda Raza each took two wickets for the Kings.
Amazon Warriors and Barbados Royals will battle it out today from 10:00h, while TKR will meet Kings from 20:00h in the final match in the twin-island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.