TAROUBA, Trinidad – The Barbados Royals stumbled into the knockout stage of the Caribbean Premier League with a disheartening fourth consecutive defeat, this time by the hands of the Trinbago Knight Riders.
The Knight Riders secured a commanding 30-run victory, due to important contributions from captain Kieron Pollard and the explosive Andre Russell.
Pollard performed a significant function with a strong 42 runs, whereas Russell electrified the group with a quick-fire 31 off simply 12 balls, propelling the Knight Riders to a difficult complete of 175 for seven from their 20 overs. Participant-of-the-Match Akeal Hosein then dismantled the Royals’ batting line-up, guaranteeing the end result was by no means doubtful because the guests stumbled to 145 for 9.
Struggling at 13 for 2
Hosein made an instantaneous impression, claiming the primary three wickets and leaving the Royals reeling. He dismissed Kadeem Alleyne for simply two runs, catching him off a mistimed push straight to Jason Roy at cowl. The essential wicket of in-form opener Quinton de Kock quickly adopted, with the South African trying to clear the boundary however discovering himself caught for eight, leaving the Royals struggling at 13 for 2.
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A partnership between Kevin Wickham and Alick Athanaze introduced a quick respite, as they mixed for 53 runs for the second wicket. Nevertheless, simply as they appeared to achieve momentum, Wickham fell to a easy return catch to Hosein after scoring 23 off 23 balls. Athanaze appeared poised for a half-century however was dismissed for 44 when he pulled a brief supply from pacer Chris Jordan on to Roy, leaving the rating at 85 for 4 within the thirteenth over.
David Miller tried to counterattack with a brisk 30 runs off 15 balls, hitting three sixes and two fours, however his dismissal, caught off Waqar Salamkheil, successfully ended any hopes of a Royals comeback. Captain Rovman Powell struggled to search out type with a pedestrian 18 off 21 balls, as no different batsman reached double digits in a dismal batting show.
Spectacular figures
Hosein concluded his spell with spectacular figures of three for 15 from 4 overs, whereas Jordan and Terrance Hinds contributed with 3 for 33 and a couple of for 22, respectively.
Earlier, the Knight Riders confronted early adversity, shedding Jason Roy to the third ball of the innings and falling to 35 for 3 after shedding Nicholas Pooran (27) and Shaqkere Parris (5). Nevertheless, Keacy Carty’s strong 32, along side Pollard and Russell, rescued the innings. The trio shaped a vital 70-run partnership for the fourth wicket, pushing their rating previous the 100 mark.
Carty finally fell to Naveen-ul-Haq, and Pollard was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana. Russell then took cost, launching a barrage of boundaries, together with a 4 and a six off consecutive balls towards Theekshana and two large sixes off Jason Holder.
Ultimately, tailenders Jordan and Hinds added 21 runs within the final two overs, serving to the Knight Riders to complete with a flourish. Theekshana and ul-Haq each claimed three wickets for the Royals, but it surely was not sufficient to avert one other defeat.
