CPL 2021 | 1st semi-final | TKR vs SLK- David Wiese' phenomenal all-round performance eliminate defending champions

We will have a new winner in this edition of the Caribbean Premier League after St Lucia Kings defeated the defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders in the 1st semi-final by 21 runs. It was a resounding all-round showing by the Kings against a formidable opponent. While they were tested till the very end in the bowling department, the batsmen had actually given a cushion to the bowlers which resulted in their victory despite the bowlers faltering on occasions. 

The target of 206 was always going to be a tall ask for the Knight Riders. However if one team could chase this total down, it would have surely been TKR. It wasn’t the ideal start for the defending champions as they lost the flamboyant opener, Lendl Simmons, in the final delivery of the first over. 

Despite the initial wicket, the St Lucia bowlers came under some stick against two powerful left-handed batsmen in the form of Sunil Narine and Colin Munro. Sending Narine up the order was a clear indication that TKR wanted a brisk start and it was provided by both Narine and Munro. 

A partnership of 76 runs laid the foundation for the run-chase but it was the 8th over bowled by David Wiese which totally changed the complexion of the match. The medium-pacer accounted for both the batsmen in the same over to put the brakes on the run chase. TKR needed to shift the momentum quickly and it was Darren Bravo and Kieron Pollard who broke the shackles and got TKR back into the game. 

The duo shared a 41 runs stand before Bravo departed. Pollard kept them in the hunt with his belligerent strokeplay but his dismissal effectively tilted the scales totally in favour of St Lucia Kings. There were a few blows here and there but the target proved to be way too much in the end as they eventually fell 21 runs short. 

Earlier in the day, it was Andre Fletcher, the Lucia Kings skipper who won the toss and opted to bat. It wasn’t the greatest of starts for the Kings as they lost Rahkeem Cornwall in the very first over. However, it was a sensational counter-attacking knock from Mark Deyal which got them off to a flier. 

While Deyal was making a mockery of the bowling attack with his delectable strokeplay, Fletcher was having a hard time at the other end. He was unable to time any from the middle but still managed to share a 73 runs stand with Deyal where his contribution was only 4 of 14 deliveries. 

Roston Chase joined Deyal in the crease and the duo continued the blitz. Deyal smashed his way to 78 of 44 deliveries before perishing to Sunil Narine in his second spell. Despite the wicket of the in-form batsman, it was Chase and David Weise who then took the onus on themselves to keep the momentum going. 

The much needed late impetus to the innings was provided by Tim David and Weise. Both went on a power-hitting spree and kept clobbering the TKR bowlers all around the park. David yet again displayed his tremendous bottom hand power remaining unbeaten on 38 of 17 deliveries which included a four and four sixes. At the other end, Weise remained undefeated on 34 of 21 deliveries which was studded with a four and 4 sixes as they reached a big score of 205 in their allotted 20 overs.