Trinbago Knight Riders were back on the winning ways after they defeated Saint Lucia Kings convincingly by 27 runs while defending a target of 159 runs in 20 overs.
The Kings lost an early wicket during the chase in the form of Rakheem Cornwall who was undone for 8 off 8 deliveries by Isuru Udana but Andre Fletcher and captain Faf du Plessis tried to steady the ship for the side as the two chipped in with a partnership of 40 runs for the second wicket.
Du Plessis was eventually sent back in the hut for 14 off 24 by Sunil Narine and the skipper’s wicket certainly broke the shackles. The Saint Lucia side kept losing wickets at regular intervals and were reduced to 104/7 in the 18th over to eventually end the innings at 131/7.
Fletcher was the pick of the batsmen for the Kings after he notched up a 55-ball 81 that included four maximums and 6 fours during the course but his efforts went in vain as the side failed to go over the line.
Ravi Rampaul scalped a three-wicket haul for the Knight Riders while Udana bagged a couple of wickets for the team. Narine and Akeal Hossain were also among the wickets as the two bowlers picked up a wicket apiece.
Earlier, riding on Kesrick Williams four-fer, Saint Lucia managed to restrict Trinbago for a total of 158/7. TKR lost Lendl Simmons early in the innings but Narine and Tion Webster scored 38 runs for the second wicket to provide the resistance before Webster departed for a run-a-ball 14.
Webster’s dismissal saw a couple of more wickets falling for the Knight Ridersand they were eventually left tottering at 68/4 before Kieron Pollard and Seifert joined hands to stitch a stand of 78 runs for the fifth wicket. Pollard scored 41 off 29 while Seifert was dismissed for a 25-ball 37.
With the win, TKR are now placed at number three spot in the points table with a couple of wins and as many defeats in the four matches that they have played.
TKR captain Pollard later expressed his delight at the win and also discussed his own innings.
“Very pleased. Happy Independence day. Sometimes you have to take the initiative, I knew if I came up, they would bring back their main bowlers. It's about capitalising on those things,” he said after the match.
SLK skipper Du Plessis too lauded Pollard’s efforts with the bat. “We lost it with the ball at the end. 20 too much on that wicket. It's not easy batting, especially against the spinners. Polly hung in there and he got the bowling at the end to capitalize,” he said.
TKR will now face Guyana Amazon Warriors on Wednesday while the Kings will be up against the same opposition on Thursday.