The Trinbago Knight Riders are through to yet another Caribbean Premier League final after crushing defending champions Saint Lucia Kings by 56 runs in the second Qualifier here on Friday.
Led by a second successive Player-of-the-Match performance by captain Nicholas Pooran, a fighting half century from Alex Hales and important contributions from Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell, the Knight Riders amassed a formidable 194 for four in their 20 overs after being sent in to bat at Providence Stadium.
The Kings were in a good position of 90 for one at one stage, but spinners Usman Tariq and Sunil Narine orchestrated a collapse that saw them struggle to 138 for eight at the end of their 20 overs.
It booked the four-time champions a spot in Sunday’s final against the Guyana Amazon Warriors, while ending the Kings’ hopes of back-to-back titles.
The Knight Riders owed their competitive total to a sensational finish to their innings that saw them blast 80 runs from the last six overs.
They were given a solid foundation on which to launch by Hales and Pooran, who put on 73 runs for the second wicket following the early loss of out of form opener Colin Munro for six.
While Hales’ struggles were evident, Pooran was fluent from the start and he rushed to 39 off 22 balls by hitting David Wiese for a six and three fours in the sixth over that went for 19 runs.
Pooran reached his fourth half century of the tournament off 31 balls with a single of Tabraiz Shamsi, but was bowled the very next ball by Roston Chase attempting a slog sweep, after hitting five fours and four sixes, to make the score 79 for two at the start of the 10th over.
Hales continued to fight and together with Pollard, they added 65 runs in seven overs, with Pollard doing the most damage, including hitting Shamsi for three sixes in the 15th over.
When Alzarri Joseph had Pollard caught for 35 off 26 balls, Hales found his groove and Andre Russell was spectacular, bringing an end to the innings in grand style by bludgeoning Wiese for 21 runs off the final over, before being run out for 28 off 12 balls attempting a second run.
Hales finished unbeaten on 58 off 44 balls, inclusive of four sixes and two fours
Needing to score at over nine and a half runs an over, the Kings were given a decent start by openers Tim Seifert and Johnson Charles, who put on 59 runs in nine overs.
Charles was the first to go, caught off the bowling off Pollard for a pedestrian 17 from 24 balls.
Tim David and Seifert then took the score to 90 for one in the 13th over, before Tariq and Narine took over the proceedings.
Tariq broke the partnership by having Seifert caught for a well-played 57 off 40 balls, and he also dismissed Akeem Auguste for a duck in the next over to leave the score 90 for three.
Narine then had David caught behind for 28, trapped Aaron Jones lbw after scored 12 and had Wiese caught and bowled for a duck, as the Kings crumbled to 132 for six at the end of the 19th over.
Tariq then claimed the wickets of Roston Chase and Tymal Mills in the final over with the outcome of the match already decided.
Tariq ended with 4-35 from his four overs while Narine 3-18 from his four. (CMC)
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