The St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots registered an thrilling one-wicket victory over the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons within the opening match of the Caribbean Premier League on the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua final Thursday.
In pursuit of the Falcons’ rating of 163- 4 off their 20 overs, the Patriots crossed the road when Anrich Nortje scampered a single off the final ball bowled by Roshon Primus to complete on 164-9 in 20 overs.
After successful the toss and sending the Falcons into bat, the house aspect misplaced their first wicket when Nortje bowled Teddy Bishop for one, leaving them 7-1.
Fakhar Zaman and Kofi James then added 60 runs for the second wicket earlier than Tabraiz Shamsi dismissed Zaman for 43, and James adopted shortly after for 22. Sam Billings made 18, and Dominic Drakes dismissed him.
Nevertheless, Andrew and Fabian Allen partnered to blast 61 runs from the ultimate six overs to strengthen the Falcons’ whole.
Seventeen-year-old debutant Andrew lashed an unbeaten 50 from 30 balls, whereas Allen ended on 24 not out from 17 balls.
In reply, the Patriots’ opening pair of Evin Lewis and captain Andre Fletcher blasted 37 runs in 5 overs.
Fletcher was the primary to go, stumped off left-arm spinner Imad Wasim for 25.
Lewis was caught making an attempt to hit Shamar Springer out of the bottom for 29; the Patriots have been 71-2 after eight overs.
It took a efficiency from Man-of-the-Match Kyle Mayers, who struck 39 from 24 balls, together with three fours and two sixes, to maintain the Patriots within the contest.
Springer accounted for the wickets of Tristan Stubbs (2), Odean Smith (27), and Rilee Rossouw for a duck, to see them slip to 111-5
After the dismissal of Mayers, issues bought even worse when Ryan John, Dominic Drakes, and Ashmead Nedd misplaced their wickets with solely 5 extra runs added to depart the Patriots 159-9.
With seven runs wanted from Primus’ final over, Nortje and Shamsi held their nerves to guide their crew to victory.
