138/8 (20.0)
CR : 6.90
194/4 (20.0)
CR : 9.70
Trinbago Knight Riders won by 56 runs π
Player of the Match
Nicholas Pooran
50(32)
08:58 AM IST, 11:28 PM Local Time: What a moment for Trinbago Knight Riders as they advance to the final with a 56-run win over St Lucia Kings in the Qualifier 2. It has set-up a re-match of the 2023 CPL Final which saw Guyana Amazon Warriors put one over the Knight Riders to win their first title.
Chasing 195 for victory, St Lucia Kings needed a strong start and Tim Seifert showed some good glimpses as he helped the team get to 38/0 at the end of four overs. However, a couple of quiet overs meant that the Kings finished the Powerplay at 44/0. The run-making continued to be slow after that too while Seifert got a reprieve from McKenny Clarke off Akeal Hosein's bowling in the eighth over.
However, the pressure of the dot balls paid off as Kieron Pollard removed Johnson Charles in the next over with the St Lucian having made only 17 off 24 balls. Tim David was promoted to No.3 to provide some much-needed boost but the TKR spinners bowled exceedingly well to not offer many freebies. Meanwhile, Seifert got to his fifty off 38 balls with back-to-back boundaries off Akeal in the 12th over. Yet, the Kiwi was removed in the very next over by Usman Tariq who had him caught at short third. It was a double strike too with Ackeem Auguste falling for a golden duck.
The wickets continued to tumble with Sunil Narine having Tim David caught behind a couple of overs later to reduce the Kings to 108/4 at the end of 15 overs. The result of the match was a mere formality after that with Narine going onto deliver a double-wicket maiden in the penultimate over. Then, Tariq added two more scalps to finish with a four-wicket haul as TKR sealed a dominant 56-run win.
Earlier in the match, Colin Munro hit a six off Khary Pierre but he was removed by the left-arm spinner in the very first over. The skipper Nicholas Pooran came out aggressive and helped TKR get to 61/1 at the end of the Powerplay. He went onto register his 4th fifty of the season before immediately getting bowled by Roston Chase in the 10th over.
Kieron Pollard took on the mantle from Pooran as he smacked four sixes in his 26-ball 35 before Alzarri Joseph bounced him out in the 17th over. By then, Alex Hales who had struggled for the majority of the innings also found his touch as he went onto register his fifty in the penultimate over. Alongside him, Andre Russell also smacked a 12-ball 28 to help TKR finish with 194/4 off their 20 overs which proved to be more than enough in the end.
Chasing 195 for victory, St Lucia Kings needed a strong start and Tim Seifert showed some good glimpses as he helped the team get to 38/0 at the end of four overs. However, a couple of quiet overs meant that the Kings finished the Powerplay at 44/0. The run-making continued to be slow after that too while Seifert got a reprieve from McKenny Clarke off Akeal Hosein's bowling in the eighth over.
However, the pressure of the dot balls paid off as Kieron Pollard removed Johnson Charles in the next over with the St Lucian having made only 17 off 24 balls. Tim David was promoted to No.3 to provide some much-needed boost but the TKR spinners bowled exceedingly well to not offer many freebies. Meanwhile, Seifert got to his fifty off 38 balls with back-to-back boundaries off Akeal in the 12th over. Yet, the Kiwi was removed in the very next over by Usman Tariq who had him caught at short third. It was a double strike too with Ackeem Auguste falling for a golden duck.
The wickets continued to tumble with Sunil Narine having Tim David caught behind a couple of overs later to reduce the Kings to 108/4 at the end of 15 overs. The result of the match was a mere formality after that with Narine going onto deliver a double-wicket maiden in the penultimate over. Then, Tariq added two more scalps to finish with a four-wicket haul as TKR sealed a dominant 56-run win.
Earlier in the match, Colin Munro hit a six off Khary Pierre but he was removed by the left-arm spinner in the very first over. The skipper Nicholas Pooran came out aggressive and helped TKR get to 61/1 at the end of the Powerplay. He went onto register his 4th fifty of the season before immediately getting bowled by Roston Chase in the 10th over.
Kieron Pollard took on the mantle from Pooran as he smacked four sixes in his 26-ball 35 before Alzarri Joseph bounced him out in the 17th over. By then, Alex Hales who had struggled for the majority of the innings also found his touch as he went onto register his fifty in the penultimate over. Alongside him, Andre Russell also smacked a 12-ball 28 to help TKR finish with 194/4 off their 20 overs which proved to be more than enough in the end.
Player of the Match: Nicholas Pooran
Nicholas Pooran (POTM): "First of all, I want to give the almighty all praise and thanks.I mean, not sure about my knock being a responsible one. I am really happy to continue my batting form from the other game. I am happy to capatalize on the powerplay, which was very important for us.
We know that in games like this, we need to step up as players. Tonight, I thought it was my time. I was going well. Unfortunately, I got out on Chase's last ball of that over. That should have gone for a six. It was there to be hit. I was unlucky there and disappointed, to be honest.
I know it was a really positive start from Colin Munro, and he unfortunately got out on the last ball of the first over. It could have easily gone for a six, and it was unlucky for him. But for us, it's all about assessing the conditions and playing good cricket. We had a good platform to obviously launch from later.
It was a really positive innings from Andre Russell. He could have easily smacked the last ball, but unfortunately, he was run out. Alex Hales has been batting really well for us. He's not getting off to a flying start, but he's not losing his wicket. He has been stitching that partnership together and bringing his experience, which is wonderful to see. A score of 194 is an intimidating total. If we can play a game like this in the finals, we would be really happy.
It was about stitching partnerships instead of going at each and every ball. Pollard and I were more focused on rotating the strikes.
If you manage to play a game and reach the final, it is great. We have had a tough road to the final. First, we needed to go through the Eliminator and now, Qualifier 2. At the moment, we are happy to embrace the opportunity. Getting momentum was key, and we are starting to get back into the right winning mindset. We will look to go with this momentum and convert it on Sunday."
We know that in games like this, we need to step up as players. Tonight, I thought it was my time. I was going well. Unfortunately, I got out on Chase's last ball of that over. That should have gone for a six. It was there to be hit. I was unlucky there and disappointed, to be honest.
I know it was a really positive start from Colin Munro, and he unfortunately got out on the last ball of the first over. It could have easily gone for a six, and it was unlucky for him. But for us, it's all about assessing the conditions and playing good cricket. We had a good platform to obviously launch from later.
It was a really positive innings from Andre Russell. He could have easily smacked the last ball, but unfortunately, he was run out. Alex Hales has been batting really well for us. He's not getting off to a flying start, but he's not losing his wicket. He has been stitching that partnership together and bringing his experience, which is wonderful to see. A score of 194 is an intimidating total. If we can play a game like this in the finals, we would be really happy.
It was about stitching partnerships instead of going at each and every ball. Pollard and I were more focused on rotating the strikes.
If you manage to play a game and reach the final, it is great. We have had a tough road to the final. First, we needed to go through the Eliminator and now, Qualifier 2. At the moment, we are happy to embrace the opportunity. Getting momentum was key, and we are starting to get back into the right winning mindset. We will look to go with this momentum and convert it on Sunday."
David Wiese (St Lucia Kings Captain): "Bit of a tough pill to swallow. We were outplayed in all three departments. Maybe, we had a good phase during the middle-overs with the ball but not much else. If I win the toss again, would probably make the same decision. Every single ball we failed to execute could have been bowled better. Wasn't good enough from us on the night.
We got ourselves to a good start but lost momentum after that. Struggled to get boundaries, their spinners bowled well. Their support for us has been fantastic throughout the campaign. We don't do this for ourselves but for the fans. Thanks for believing in us, the guys will be back stronger. I can assure you that."
We got ourselves to a good start but lost momentum after that. Struggled to get boundaries, their spinners bowled well. Their support for us has been fantastic throughout the campaign. We don't do this for ourselves but for the fans. Thanks for believing in us, the guys will be back stronger. I can assure you that."
Nicholas Pooran (Trinbago Knight Riders Captain): "First of all, I want to give the almighty all praise and thanks. For us, it's really important to come together in a tournament like this, especially with the type of players we have.
It has been a challenging season for us. We lost a couple of games coming here to Guyana. For the last couple of years, it has been challenging for us, and here in Guyana, it hasn't been on our side.
This group has been amazing. We started the tournament dominating, then lost three games, and showed character to put it together again, going the hard way from the Eliminator into this. A big congratulations to everyone in that room. The boys have done well. Very proud of every single individual. We had to drop our egos and do what's required for this team.
Yeah, yeah, our spinners have been incredible throughout the tournament. First of all, Usman has been brilliant. He was bowled in different phases of the game and has done well. We're really happy to have him.
What to say about King (Sunil Narine)? He again and again proves why he is the best T20 spinner in the world. We are really lucky to have him.
Akeal has had a tough tournament, but tonight, he did well. In big games, big players step up.
It's all about what's required on this pitch, and hence, Andre Russell was given the new ball. He came out tonight and hit a couple of sixes and also bowled two overs in the Powerplay, which was really well done. Even Kieron Pollard bowled an over and got us a wicket. He had one over where he was smashing Shamsi and getting some revenge as well, which is really nice to see.
You always want to have a Guyana-Trinidad final. This is probably going to be one of the biggest games in CPL, especially here in Guyana. You know how the crowd is going to be. They will be electric. Everyone in Trinidad & Tobago and here in Guyana is looking forward to this moment. You can't get better than this. Trinidad vs Guyana in a CPL final with this calibre of players. May the best team win. We respect them as a team. I know they respect us as a team as well.
We love you guys. I know for the last month, we've entertained you. Thank you for the support. We will try to entertain you again. One more game to come. We are doing this for you guys."
It has been a challenging season for us. We lost a couple of games coming here to Guyana. For the last couple of years, it has been challenging for us, and here in Guyana, it hasn't been on our side.
This group has been amazing. We started the tournament dominating, then lost three games, and showed character to put it together again, going the hard way from the Eliminator into this. A big congratulations to everyone in that room. The boys have done well. Very proud of every single individual. We had to drop our egos and do what's required for this team.
Yeah, yeah, our spinners have been incredible throughout the tournament. First of all, Usman has been brilliant. He was bowled in different phases of the game and has done well. We're really happy to have him.
What to say about King (Sunil Narine)? He again and again proves why he is the best T20 spinner in the world. We are really lucky to have him.
Akeal has had a tough tournament, but tonight, he did well. In big games, big players step up.
It's all about what's required on this pitch, and hence, Andre Russell was given the new ball. He came out tonight and hit a couple of sixes and also bowled two overs in the Powerplay, which was really well done. Even Kieron Pollard bowled an over and got us a wicket. He had one over where he was smashing Shamsi and getting some revenge as well, which is really nice to see.
You always want to have a Guyana-Trinidad final. This is probably going to be one of the biggest games in CPL, especially here in Guyana. You know how the crowd is going to be. They will be electric. Everyone in Trinidad & Tobago and here in Guyana is looking forward to this moment. You can't get better than this. Trinidad vs Guyana in a CPL final with this calibre of players. May the best team win. We respect them as a team. I know they respect us as a team as well.
We love you guys. I know for the last month, we've entertained you. Thank you for the support. We will try to entertain you again. One more game to come. We are doing this for you guys."
So, that is it from myself, Karthik Raj, my co-commentator, AkshayaKrishna Polya and the scorer, Raju Khariya as we wrap up the coverage of this fixture. Do stay tuned to our network with a lot more cricketing action coming up later on Saturday!