201/9 (20.0)
CR : 10.05
206/3 (20.0)
CR : 10.30
Barbados Tridents won by 5 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
Daniel Sams
4/20
Daniel Sams (Player of the Match): "[Plans from you] It was one of those tonight. First of all took a wicket, wasn't what I wanted to bowl to be honest. Rutherford spoke half-way through that slower balls were hard to hit and then top of off for the seamers. That's what I went with. But Andre Russell started hitting, things change and then you adapt.
[Emotions during the game] It was a roller-coaster of a game, that's what happens in the CPL. We started well and then thy got some momentum. Rovman and Dre did what they do best. We stayed really calm even though the ball was flying around. We knew Dre is going to smack it and hoped he would sky one. Two drop catches off Dre which nearly cost us, that is something we can work on. Ramon stepped up in the last over even though he had a tough night.
[Starting the season with a win] First game, win. It starts the tournament the way you planned to from the pre-season camp. Looking forward to go to St Lucia for the next game."
[Emotions during the game] It was a roller-coaster of a game, that's what happens in the CPL. We started well and then thy got some momentum. Rovman and Dre did what they do best. We stayed really calm even though the ball was flying around. We knew Dre is going to smack it and hoped he would sky one. Two drop catches off Dre which nearly cost us, that is something we can work on. Ramon stepped up in the last over even though he had a tough night.
[Starting the season with a win] First game, win. It starts the tournament the way you planned to from the pre-season camp. Looking forward to go to St Lucia for the next game."
Rovman Powell (Jamaica Kingsmen Captain): "[Deconstruct this game] I think we wanted to start a little bit better as a bowling group. You know, bowling been a little bit struggling, not stringing consistently good overs together. And also if you're three or four down in the powerplay, you generally go on to lose the game. You know, but having said that, I think Russell played extremely well, and young Vitel Lawes, Carty also.
[Once Russell was there, there must have been belief?] Yeah, yeah, definitely. We thought that if it was our game, after the game swung so much, when it came down to the last two or so overs, we thought as if we were going to win. But having said that, credit has to be given to Barbados. I think tonight they were the better team overall.
[What improvements they need to make after 2 narrow defeats?] I think there is work needed to be done in all three departments. From a batting standpoint, from a bowling standpoint and from a fielding standpoint. Tonight we lose wickets in clusters. Every time somebody gets out, another wicket follows. You know, in T20 cricket, no matter who you have in your lineup, once you keep on losing wickets in clusters, you're generally going to find yourself in trouble. But having said that, I think it's encouraging for the fans also. We have played two nail-biting games. It's just for us to get on the other side of one of these games.
[What have you learned so far from your team?] That it's not done until it's done, until the last ball. We have a lot of match winners, you know, at some point in the game. I'm sure a lot of people think we were down and out, but the guys show courage, they show fight, and that's all I ask of them."
[Once Russell was there, there must have been belief?] Yeah, yeah, definitely. We thought that if it was our game, after the game swung so much, when it came down to the last two or so overs, we thought as if we were going to win. But having said that, credit has to be given to Barbados. I think tonight they were the better team overall.
[What improvements they need to make after 2 narrow defeats?] I think there is work needed to be done in all three departments. From a batting standpoint, from a bowling standpoint and from a fielding standpoint. Tonight we lose wickets in clusters. Every time somebody gets out, another wicket follows. You know, in T20 cricket, no matter who you have in your lineup, once you keep on losing wickets in clusters, you're generally going to find yourself in trouble. But having said that, I think it's encouraging for the fans also. We have played two nail-biting games. It's just for us to get on the other side of one of these games.
[What have you learned so far from your team?] That it's not done until it's done, until the last ball. We have a lot of match winners, you know, at some point in the game. I'm sure a lot of people think we were down and out, but the guys show courage, they show fight, and that's all I ask of them."
Chris Green (Barbados Tridents Captain): "[Thoughts about the game] It was a roller-coaster, what a game of cricket. Two of the most powerful hitters in the world in Andre Russell and Rovman Powell. They are some of the best in the world. Even when you are ahead, they hit out of the trouble. Vitel Lawes as well, hitting two of the best spinners. Happy we snuck home in the end.
[21 sixes and one four, how do you explain that?] It's the Caribbean for you, serious power. It's not about singles and dots particularly when the wickets are good like this. I was excited when it spun a couple of times but it skid on and got better. But like I said, it's serious power. Fielding on the boundary, thought the fans were entertained.
[Momentum from the game] It is important, coming in late last year to a team that lost a few close ones. Even though we were ahead of the game, it is important for confidence. They say you learn a lot from losses but also from games like these where it gets close. We were outstanding with the bat and in the first 10 overs with the ball and then it was about limiting the damage because a lot of teams have power like this.
[On Daniel Sams' spell] Outstanding, his skill-set and clarity at the top of the mark. He was great last year and coming in for a second year, people know what to expect from you. He was a lovely weapon for me to use when the ball was travelling. He bowled the hardest overs. Lucky to have him.
[Losing the tosses but winning the games is nice?] I will take it, I will take it."
[21 sixes and one four, how do you explain that?] It's the Caribbean for you, serious power. It's not about singles and dots particularly when the wickets are good like this. I was excited when it spun a couple of times but it skid on and got better. But like I said, it's serious power. Fielding on the boundary, thought the fans were entertained.
[Momentum from the game] It is important, coming in late last year to a team that lost a few close ones. Even though we were ahead of the game, it is important for confidence. They say you learn a lot from losses but also from games like these where it gets close. We were outstanding with the bat and in the first 10 overs with the ball and then it was about limiting the damage because a lot of teams have power like this.
[On Daniel Sams' spell] Outstanding, his skill-set and clarity at the top of the mark. He was great last year and coming in for a second year, people know what to expect from you. He was a lovely weapon for me to use when the ball was travelling. He bowled the hardest overs. Lucky to have him.
[Losing the tosses but winning the games is nice?] I will take it, I will take it."
Smallest Win Margins for Barbados Tridents in the CPL (by runs):
2 vs Jamaica Tallawahs, Lauderhill, 2018
5 vs Jamaica Kingsmen, Kingston, 2026, Tonight*
6 vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Tarouba, 2020
2 vs Jamaica Tallawahs, Lauderhill, 2018
5 vs Jamaica Kingsmen, Kingston, 2026, Tonight*
6 vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots, Tarouba, 2020
Highest Match Aggregates at Sabina Park in the CPL:
493 - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, 2019
407 - Jamaica Kingsmen vs Barbados Tridents, 2026, Tonight*
380 - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, 2017
493 - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, 2019
407 - Jamaica Kingsmen vs Barbados Tridents, 2026, Tonight*
380 - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, 2017
Most Sixes by Andre Russell in a CPL Innings:
13 for Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Port of Spain, 2018
11 for Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Basseterre, 2016
9 for Jamaica Kingsmen vs Barbados Tridents, Kingston, 2026, Tonight*
13 for Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Port of Spain, 2018
11 for Jamaica Tallawahs vs Trinbago Knight Riders, Basseterre, 2016
9 for Jamaica Kingsmen vs Barbados Tridents, Kingston, 2026, Tonight*
Kingston delivers a game for ages on its return to CPL after seven years! The biggest party in sports – the Caribbean Premier League – continues to live upto its expectations. Carnage from both teams. 200+ totals in both innings. The bowlers were on the receiving end. But Daniel Sams' 4/20 stands right at the top. Just 1 four was hit in the run chase, while the Caribbean power-hitters struck 21 sixes. They fell short by one maximum.
Rovman Powell tried to counterattack after his team was reduced to 8/3, but it was Dre Russ' night. Keacy Carty and Vitel Lawes gave him company, but despite dropped catches, Andre Russell's heroic moment was robbed by the Tridents on the fourth ball of the last over. Kudos to Ramon Simmonds as well for keeping his composure under serious pressure.
What a player Andre Russell is. If someone could have won the game from 60/5, it was Dre Russ, and he nearly got his team over the line. On the other hand, Chris Green and Co. got out of the jail in a dramatic fashion as they opened their CPL season 14 campaign with a narrow five-run win. For the Kingsmen, they have been on the wrong side of the the thrillers so far, but that is not the end of the road for them.
Up next in the CPL, it's St Lucia Kings vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots tomorrow from the former's home. For now, this is me, AkshayaKrishna Polya, signing off on behalf of my co-commentator Karthik Raj and scorers Asraj Khan and Bishal Mandal. We will meet again. Until then, it's cheers!