CPL 2021: St Lucia Kings to take on St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the finals

 It was a night of cricket in the Caribbean Premier League semi-finals stage as St Lucia Kings and hosts St Kitts and Nevis Patriots performed brilliantly played at St Warner’s Park, St Kitts on Tuesday.

St Lucia Kings stunned the defending Champions Trinbago Knight Riders in the first semi-finals. St Lucia Kings stand-in captain Andre Fletcher won the toss and decided to bat first. The start was not an ideal one as Rakheem Cornwall could not open his account being dismissed by Akeal Hossain.

Mark Deyal showed great intent and put the Knight Riders bowlers under immense especially Ravi Rampaul. Andre Fletcher looked out of sorts struggling for timing. At the end of the first six overs, St Lucia Kings scored 58 for 1.

Mark Deyal kept the momentum going for St Lucia Kings keeping the scoreboard ticking and completed his fifty off 23 balls. Fletcher's struggle came to an end being dismissed trying to hit a big shot. Deyal and Fletcher added 73 runs for the 2^nd wicket. Deyal showed his class and made life tough for Knight Riders bowlers.

Roston Chase took few balls to settle before playing some aggressive strokes laying a strong foundation for a massive total. Sunil Narine did the job one more time getting rid of well-set Deyal for a brilliant 78 off 44 balls. Deyal and Chase added 54 runs for the 3^rd wicket. Soon after, Chase was dismissed giving an easy catch to Denesh Ramdin to help Trinbago Knight Riders back into the match.

TKR kept the pressure on David Wiese and Tim David by bowling dots. David Wiese and Tim David showed great class hitting boundaries at will especially on Ravi Rampaul, Kharry Pierre, and Ali Khan. Both added unbeaten 75 runs in 34 balls to help St Lucia Kings post a massive total of 205 for 4.

In reply, TKR got off to the worst possible start as Lendl Simmons was brilliantly caught by Andre Fletcher. Colin Munro and Sunil Narine put the pressure on Kings bowlers hitting boundaries keeping the momentum going.

Munro and Narine ensured that Trinbago Knight Riders ended the first six overs at 66 for 1. The things looked in good shape for TKR before David Wiese struck twice getting rid of both well-set Narine and Colin Munro. Narine and Munro added 71 runs for the 2^nd wicket.

Coming at number 4, Denesh Ramdin was not able to time the ball. Darren Bravo showed class hitting big shots putting Alleyne under some pressure. Despite some fluent strokes, it was a tough ask for TKR batsmen. Wahab Riaz was bought into the attack and produced a stunning delivery to dismiss Darren Bravo. Bravo and Ramdin added 41 runs for the 4^th wicket.

Kieron Pollard looked in sensational touch right from the word go hitting Keemo Paul for 2 big sixes. Pollard and Ramdin scored 22 runs to keep TKR in the hunt.

Wiese held his nerves to get rid of big fish Kieron Pollard denting TKR chances. Pollard and Ramdin added 38 runs for the 5^th wicket. The match ebbed and flowed like a pendulum as Wahab Riaz dismissed Ramdin providing an easy catch to Alleyne at long-off. David Wiese bowled a brilliant 19^th over taking wickets of Akeal Hossain and Tim Seifert virtually end TKR hopes.

With 22 runs required off 6 deliveries, Keemo Paul dismissed Kharry Pierre and Ali Khan to help St Lucia Kings beat Trinbago Knight Riders by 21 runs.

St Lucia Kings will be playing their 2^nd successive CPL finals after qualifying last year. For his all-around efforts, David Wiese was named the man of the match.

St Lucia Kings 205 for 4 in 20 overs ( Deyal 78, Chase 36, David 38*, Sunil Narine 1/12) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 184 in 19.3 overs ( Narine 30, Bravo 25, David Wiese 5/39) by 21 runs.

 

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots produced a sensational display to defeat Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 2^nd semi-finals played at St Warner’s Park, St Kitts on Tuesday.

Patriots captain Dwayne Bravo won the toss and decided to field first. Warriors openers Brandon King and Hemraj provided a flying start hitting before Naseem Shah got rid of King. King and Hemraj added 33 runs in quick time.

It was a decent start for Guyana as Hemraj showed some intent to end the first six overs at 55 for 1. Jaggesar dismissed veteran Malik to dent the opposition. Nicolas Pooran got the going from word go putting Kitts bowlers under pressure. After Hemraj’s wicket, St Kitts bowlers kept on taking wickets at regular intervals. Thanks to a quickfire unbeaten 45 off 20 balls by Shimron Hetymer, Guyana Amazon Warriors posted 178 for 9.

In reply, the explosive opening pair of Chris Gayle and Evin Lewis intent right from the word go putting Warriors bowlers under severe pressure. Both openers helped Kitts and Nevis Patriots race away to 68 for 0.

There was some relief for Warriors camp as Kevin Sinclair dismissed Chris Gayle ending 76 runs opening stand. Dwayne Bravo promoted himself to number 3 and played an anchor role. On the other hand, Lewis reached his fifty off in just 24 balls. Odean Smith got two wickets of Bravo and Fabien Allen in the same over. Bravo and Lewis added 88 runs for the 2^nd wicket.

Evin Lewis and Rutherford ensured that St Kitts and Nevis Patriots reach the target with ease to qualify for the finals of CPL 2021.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 181 for 3 in 17.5 overs ( Evin Lewis 77*, Gayle 42, Odean Smith 2/48) beat Guyana Amazon Warriors 178 for 9 in 20 overs ( Shimron Hetymer 45*, Jaggesar 2/19, Fawad Ahmed 2/22) by 7 wickets.

For his breath-taking 77 not out of 38 balls with 3 fours and 8 sixes, Evin Lewis was awarded the man of the match. The finals of CPL 2021 will be held today as there will be a new champion in this season.

ST Lucia Kings to face St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the finals of CPL 2021