Four-time champions Trinbago Knight Riders opened their men’s Caribbean Premier League campaign with a nervy three-wicket win over St Lucia Kings at Warner Park.
Akeal Hosein grabbed the new ball and took 4 for 13, a boundaryless performance that saw him dismiss four of the top five to at one stage be on a hat-trick, to leave Kings 77 for 5 in the 13th over.
Roshon Primus top-scored with 38, following Mark Deyal’s 35 from 34 balls to give them a score of some respectability.
During the second match, Trinbago Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard put on display a splendid fielding effort to aid in picking a wicket.
It all happened on the fourth delivery of the last over when St Lucia Kings pacer Alzarri Joseph (9) hit a Jayden Seales delivery in the hope of clearing the boundary.
In the general run of things and with any other fielder at long-on, Joseph might have earned six runs but it wasn’t to be in this particular case with Pollard stationed at the boundary.
The 35-year old player leaped in the air to initially prevent the ball from going for a six. Subsequently, Pollard was aware enough to realize a catching opportunity.
Having done all the hard work successfully, Pollard registered an acrobatic boundary catch to become a source of amazement for one and all.
WATCH HERE;-
A stunner from Pollard!! TKR captain Kieran Pollard not only saves a six but pulls off an unbelievable catch as this morning’s @fun88eng magic moment of the match.#CPL22 #SLKvTKR #CricketPlayedLouder #Fun88 #BiggestPartyInSport pic.twitter.com/dBn0vrS8Fz
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 1, 2022
The Trinbago Knight Riders’ chase was in danger when they were reduced to 19 for 2, losing Sunil Narine (6) and Nicholas Pooran (4) inside 19 balls.
Webster and Tim Seifert put them back on top, putting on an 81-run stand for the third wicket in nine overs.
Victory was in sight with two overs to go but three wickets fell in the 19th (Seifert, Kieron Pollard and Seekkuge Prasanna were all dismissed) bowled by Alzarri Joseph.
Alzarri Joseph finished with 4 for 17 and turned the final over to Scott Kuggeleijn.
With two needed, Kuggeleijn started with a dot but Anderson Phillip took no liberties from the next delivery, launching the ball for a straight six to confirm victory.
Player of the match Hosein said: “I’m pretty flexible where I can bowl. It was a bit slow and didn’t spin as much as we thought.”
Trinbago are next in action against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Saturday (September 3), while Kings have the chance to bounce back against Barbados Royals the following day.