Roneil Walcott
St Lucia Kings (ten aspects) became the second crew to clinch a playoff space in the 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) season when they defeated desk-toppers Barbados Royals by a seven-wicket margin at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on September 21.
Bowling first, the Kings had been fully ruthless in opposition to the Royals – limiting the opposition to a subpar whole of 96 for 9 from their 20 overs. On what perceived to be a difficult ground to negotiate, the Kings then made light work of the diagram as they acquired to 97 for 3 in the 14th over to clinch victory with 37 balls to spare.
Man of the Match Alzarri Joseph (four for 22) space the tone for the Kings, and he spectacularly neat-bowled in-ruin Royals opener Quinton de Kock (two) along with his first ball before disregarding Rahkeem Cornwall (two) in the related over.
With the first ball of his subsequent over, Joseph trapped Royals and West Indies captain Rovman Powell lbw for one, before returning at the loss of life to look at the help of the harmful David Miller (21).
Allrounder Roston Breeze had a stunning performance with every and ball, as he grabbed figures of three for 18 before applying the finishing touches on a dominant Kings level to with an unbeaten innings of 39 not out off 38 balls in a facile toddle.
Breeze had every Kadeem Alleyne (four) and usual Windies captain Jason Holder (21) trapped lbw, and he also took the wicket of allrounder Nyeem Younger (duck).
There became as soon as also a wicket apiece for Afghanistan spinner Noor Ahmad and 22-one year-outdated TT rising player Mikkel Govia.
Within the acknowledge, the Kings misplaced the pair of Johnson Charles (six) and Ackeem Auguste (one) early as they slipped to 16 for two in the third over. Captain Faf du Plessis confirmed intent with a breezy 26 off 19 before being stumped off the bowling of South African countryman Keshav Maharaj in the seventh over.
Breeze and unique batsman Tim Seifert (21 not out off 17) ensured a trusty float to victory with an unbeaten 48-crawl partnership.
With the derive, the Kings leapfrogged every Guyana Amazon Warriors and four-time champs Trinbago Knight Riders to lumber to second space on the desk.
Summarised Rankings:
BARBADOS ROYALS: 96/9 from 20 overs (David Miller 21, Jason Holder 21; Alzarri Joseph 4/22, Roston Breeze 3/18) vs ST LUCIA KINGS: 97/3 from 13.5 overs (R Breeze 39 not out, Faf du Plessis 26; Maheesh Theekshana 1/16). Kings won by seven wickets.
CPL standings (before Warriors/Falcons match on September 21):
Team*GP*W*L*Pts*NRR
1.Royals*7*5*2*10*0.834
2.Kings*7*5*2*10*0.528
3.Amazon Warriors*6*4*2*8*1.052
4.TKR*6*4*2*8*0.411
5.Falcons*9*3*6*6*-0.510
6.Patriots*9*1*8*2*-1.531
