Saint Lucia Kings skipper Faf du Plessis, who hadn't had a great run in the ongoing Caribbean Premier League so far, was back in form with a scintillating century against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Saturday, 4 September.
Batting first, the Kings were off to a flying start after Andre Fletcher and du Plessis compiled a stand of 76 runs in 7.2 overs for the first wicket before Fletcher departed for 23 off 19.
But Fletcher’s dismissal didn’t really have any impact on du Plessis' scoring rate as he went to score an unbeaten 120 off 60 deliveries that included five maximums and 13 fours during the course.
While the South African notched up a ton, Roston Chase, who came in at number four also chipped in with an important 64* off 31. Chase hit three sixes and seven fours during the course of the innings as Saint Lucia posted 224/2 in 20 overs.
In reply, Patriots lost a couple of early wickets during the chase and were reduced to 22/2 with Chris Gayle back in the hut. But Evin Lewis tried to steady the ship for the side after he stitched a partnership of 60 runs with Ravi Bopara.
But Bopara’s departure broke the shackles and the Patriots lost wickets in quick succession only to get bundled out for 124. Lewis though scored a half-century but his efforts went in vain as the Patriots lost the match by 100 runs.
Alzarri Joseph and Keemo Paul picked up three wickets apiece while Wahab Riaz, Chase and Kesrick Williams had one scalp each to their names.
The Patriots suffered their first defeat in six games in the competition but are still sitting at the helm of the points table.
Fletcher lauded Faf’s knock after the match and said that it was a brilliant innings. “It was a brilliant innings. He was under pressure from the start of the tournament and he did well. We don't have great power at the back end,” he said.
The two teams will now face each other on Sunday at the same venue.