St Lucia Stars produced yet another dominant performance with the bat as they took on the clinical Barbados Tridents on Friday evening at the Darren Sammy Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia.
Andre Fletcher and Kieron Pollard
Stars once again treated their supporters batting first and registering the highest Caribbean Premier League (CPL) total of 226-6 in 20 overs. An impressive feat after equaling the record a day ago against the defending champions, and somehow not being victorious.
They were led by a solid captain’s knock of 104 from Kieron Pollard and an aggressive attack from Andre Fletcher.
Fletcher launched his assault very early taking 20 off of Mohammed Irfan in the first over, but Tridents struck right back with some offence of their own as captain Jason Holder removed the dangerous David Warner with scoring on his second delivery.
Wahab Riaz and Martin Guptill celebrate the dismissal of Lendl Simmons
Nicholas Pooran made no mistake in taking the catch behind the stumps, but unlucky for Warner who hit a crafty unbeaten 72 against TKR on Thursday at the same venue.
The big man, Rahkeem Cornwall, entered at three and was once again effective with the bat smashing three maximums and two fours in an 11-ball 30.
Cornwall and Fletcher assaulted Irfan and Holder to bring up the first 50 in 3.5 overs. However, it was a good show to back up the 53 scored against TKR by Cornwall before he held out to Holder off Wahab Riaz. Stars were now 57 – 2.
Riaz struck the very next ball as Lendl Simmons was trapped leg before wicket for a duck to leave Stars looking vulnerable at 57 – 3.
That meant the entrance of the captain Kieron Pollard, coming off a brilliant 65 not out. Of course he had enough experience to survive the hat-trick ball and keep the board ticking.
Andre Fletcher
Fletcher and the skipper put on a dazzling show as Stars did not miss a step with the bat. The opener reached the half century mark in 34 balls while it took Pollard one ball less to achieve his 50.
Their 148-run fourth wicket partnership ensured a commanding end to their first innings. The partnership was broken in the 19th over when Fletcher was caught off Riaz for 80 after hitting sixes fours and an equal number of sixes in his 52-ball stay. Stars were 204-5.
Pollard’s triple was constructed with six fours and eight sixes in 53 balls – the 54th one, he was caught by Dwayne Smith off Raymon Reifer in the final over. It was an eventful final over which cost 10 runs and saw Darren Sammy being caught by Ashley Nurse for 0.
Riaz finished with 3 – 35 while Reifer was expensive with 2 – 67 and Holder accounted for the other wicket. He went for 42 in his four overs.
Up to press time, Tridents were 44 for one from 5 over in reply.
