168/7 (18.0)
CR : 9.33
177/5 (18.0)
CR : 9.83
Barbados Tridents won by 9 runs 🏆
Player of the Match
S Rutherford
61(31)
The chase needed a couple of big partnerships. The openers did well and started on a positive note. Johann Jeremiah (11) and in particular Roston Chase (34) set the platform with a 41-run opening stand. Ackeem Auguste at number 3 continued the flair and put a lot of pressure on the Tridents. His fiery 63 off 34 left the bowlers clueless. However, what brought his downfall was the lack of contribution from the other end. The Trident spinners Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Gudakesh Motie settled into their work and triggered a collapse.
St Lucia Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first. Just as things were about to get underway, the rain gods appeared and we had a significant delay before we got underway with an 18-over per side contest. Brandon King (39 off 28) and Quinton de Kock (38 off 15) set the platform up for the Barbados Tridents and pushed the score to 90 before both batters were dismissed. The stage was set for a Sherfane Rutherford special, who with his 61 off 31 powered the Tridents to a daunting score of 177/5. The pick of the bowlers for the Kings were Roston Chase (2/30) and Shadley van Schalkwyk (2/25).
9:06 AM IST, 11:36 PM Local Time: Barbados Tridents win by 9 runs! Phew! This was quite an entertaining chase with the momentum shifting from time to time. For the first 14 overs of the chase, it seemed like the Kings had it under control with Ackeem Auguste smoking the ball all across the park. However, the Trident spinners triggered a collapse and caught the hosts 9 runs short.
Player of the Match: Sherfane Rutherford
Sherfane Rutherford (POTM): "[How does he stay fresh and mentally ready?] As an athlete, it is important to focus on recovery. Playing a lot of cricket can be tiring, but one thing for me is I have been doing a lot of massages and spending a lot of time in the pool. Mentally, you can be tired from travelling and playing but I am just trying to adjust and stay as fresh and just try and train less and just do more short sessions.
[On not having good time with the bat in the last two editions and what changed?] Yeah, definitely. I looked back at the last two years. For a player who plays CPL so much, I think it was important for me to show my power. Just wanted to tick the boxes and keep enjoying.
[On Barbados Tridents' excellent start] Yeah, it is definitely a great start. The vibe in the team is good. We want to focus on winning and keep winning. There's still a lot left to do for sure."
[On not having good time with the bat in the last two editions and what changed?] Yeah, definitely. I looked back at the last two years. For a player who plays CPL so much, I think it was important for me to show my power. Just wanted to tick the boxes and keep enjoying.
[On Barbados Tridents' excellent start] Yeah, it is definitely a great start. The vibe in the team is good. We want to focus on winning and keep winning. There's still a lot left to do for sure."
Roston Chase (St Lucia Kings Captain): "[On the game as a whole] I thought we initially gave them 10-15 runs too much. Having said that, in the chase we started off really well but lost our way at the backend and did not get there in the end.
[On Ackeem Auguste] Yeah, I thought it was a great knock. He has not been finding any form in the tournament so to come and play a knock like that under pressure and show that he has got some form was pleasing. I thought he was going to get us over the line but still well played to him.
[Where did it go wrong?] In the bowling department we had three big overs. I felt if we could have shaved them down by probably 4 runs each over, that would have given us a better chance. Then again, we lost wickets at crucial stages when we were feeling on top. That pulled us back and it was just too much in the last 2 overs.
[On the crowd] Yeah, the fans have been great for us. I would love them to continue and support us. I love to see the fans in the stands in their blue. It gives us energy to do our best out there. I just want them to keep coming and supporting us.
[Preparations for the next game] We are going to have a 2- or 3-day rest in between. We have been doing play, rest, play, rest. So, I think that the guys are going to have some adequate rest and then we will have out team meetings and come up with plans and strategies that we want to use against Guyana."
[On Ackeem Auguste] Yeah, I thought it was a great knock. He has not been finding any form in the tournament so to come and play a knock like that under pressure and show that he has got some form was pleasing. I thought he was going to get us over the line but still well played to him.
[Where did it go wrong?] In the bowling department we had three big overs. I felt if we could have shaved them down by probably 4 runs each over, that would have given us a better chance. Then again, we lost wickets at crucial stages when we were feeling on top. That pulled us back and it was just too much in the last 2 overs.
[On the crowd] Yeah, the fans have been great for us. I would love them to continue and support us. I love to see the fans in the stands in their blue. It gives us energy to do our best out there. I just want them to keep coming and supporting us.
[Preparations for the next game] We are going to have a 2- or 3-day rest in between. We have been doing play, rest, play, rest. So, I think that the guys are going to have some adequate rest and then we will have out team meetings and come up with plans and strategies that we want to use against Guyana."
Chris Green (Barbados Tridents Captain): "[Good toss to lose?] Well, I am used to losing tosses now. But thankfully, I have some good batters who get us off to some fantastic starts.
[What impressed him the most about his team's performance?] Oh, look. It certainly wasn't a polished performance. I think we now have had two games that have gone right down to the end. Particularly with the ball, being ahead of the game for a long period of time, we have let the team back in and there's also been some good batting as well. I thought the left-hander (Ackeem Auguste) batted well and took them to a position where they can be dangerous. But the senior players for us with the bat, King, de Kock and Rutherford have been tremendous for us and I hope they keep going.
[On Sherfane Rutherford's form] He's peaking at the right time for the tournament that matters and obviously he's on my side. I think he's a great batter, he played the wind and situation well and got us to a good total.
[Mood in the camp] Look, I think the results help but it certainly doesn't dictate the feeling, regardless of winning or losing. The feeling around the group is very good and I feel like we are a close-knit group. Even last year, when I came in late, the group was very close together. I feel like it is a credit to management and players to keep our emotions in check, knowing that the game can swing either way. We had a great start to this tournament, we know it is not going to be easy. The carrot is there as we go to Barbados, hopefully we can play our best cricket towards the backend of the tournament."
[What impressed him the most about his team's performance?] Oh, look. It certainly wasn't a polished performance. I think we now have had two games that have gone right down to the end. Particularly with the ball, being ahead of the game for a long period of time, we have let the team back in and there's also been some good batting as well. I thought the left-hander (Ackeem Auguste) batted well and took them to a position where they can be dangerous. But the senior players for us with the bat, King, de Kock and Rutherford have been tremendous for us and I hope they keep going.
[On Sherfane Rutherford's form] He's peaking at the right time for the tournament that matters and obviously he's on my side. I think he's a great batter, he played the wind and situation well and got us to a good total.
[Mood in the camp] Look, I think the results help but it certainly doesn't dictate the feeling, regardless of winning or losing. The feeling around the group is very good and I feel like we are a close-knit group. Even last year, when I came in late, the group was very close together. I feel like it is a credit to management and players to keep our emotions in check, knowing that the game can swing either way. We had a great start to this tournament, we know it is not going to be easy. The carrot is there as we go to Barbados, hopefully we can play our best cricket towards the backend of the tournament."
The St Lucia Kings fail to get across the line at home once again. It has now happened twice in three days. However, the good work done by them right at the beginning keeps them at second place in the table. On the other hand, the Barbados Tridents make it two in two. They have leaped to the top of the table and sit pretty there.
The Caribbean juggernaut continues and after a day off tomorrow, we shall move to Kingston, Jamaica once again for match no. 10. Jamaica Kingsmen taken on St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on 19th August at 5:30 AM IST (7 PM Local Time, 18th August). Do join us for the live coverage.
On this note, I, Manan Mehta, would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues AkshayaKrishna Polya, Ajay Pal Singh, Deepak Prakash and Manish Bishnoi. B-byeee!!!