Charles and Du Plessis Power Saint Lucia Kings

Explosive half-centuries from Johnson Charles and Faf du Plessis helped Saint Lucia Kings secure a comfortable five-wicket win against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, handing the Patriots their sixth consecutive loss. Chasing 174 for victory, the Kings reached the target in just 16.3 overs, thanks to Charles' 74 off 42 balls (including 4 fours and 7 sixes) and his 115-run opening partnership with du Plessis, who hit a quick-fire 62 from 31 balls, with five boundaries and five sixes. This dominant performance propelled the Kings to third place on the points table, while boosting their net run rate.

Du Plessis started the chase strong, striking an early boundary off Kyle Mayers in the first over. Charles followed with two massive sixes off Johann Layne, and du Plessis quickly switched gears, smashing two fours off Mayers and two sixes off Veerasammy Permaul. With a boundary from Charles, the Kings raced to 50 runs within just four overs. The assault continued as du Plessis hit a six off Anrich Nortje, followed by Charles launching a four and two sixes off Layne. By the end of the powerplay, the Kings had surged to 72/0.

Charles reached the milestone of 3000 runs in the CPL, and du Plessis brought up his 25-ball fifty with consecutive sixes off Permaul. The over yielded 22 runs, taking the Kings past 100 in under nine overs and marking their first 100-run opening stand since 2019. With the team comfortably placed at 113/0 after 10 overs, only 61 more runs were needed from 60 balls.

Charles reached his half-century in 33 balls, but the opening stand ended soon after when du Plessis edged a wide delivery from Josh Clarkson to the wicketkeeper. Tim Seifert came in with a bang, hitting a six and a four off Tabraiz Shamsi, but his brief stint ended when Clarkson took another wicket. Charles added two more sixes before Bhanuka Rajapaksa joined the action with a maximum off Shamsi. Although Rajapaksa was dismissed after overturning an lbw decision, and Charles' knock was ended by Wanindu Hasaranga, it was too late for the Patriots. Roston Chase sealed the win with a boundary in the 17th over.

Earlier in the match, Patriots openers Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis gave their team a solid start after being put in to bat. Fletcher was particularly aggressive, hitting two sixes and four boundaries inside the powerplay, while Lewis chipped in with a few boundaries. Their opening partnership helped Patriots reach 50 in the first six overs. However, Descarte broke the stand by dismissing Lewis, and although Mayers hit a four and a six, he was soon bowled by Chase.

Rilee Rossouw then took charge, building a 70-run stand with Fletcher. Rossouw’s six off Noor Ahmad brought up 100 for the Patriots, while Fletcher reached his 40-ball fifty soon after. However, a few quiet overs left the Patriots at 112/2 after 15 overs. Rossouw then accelerated, smashing two sixes off Descarte and another off Alzarri Joseph, but Fletcher fell in the same over, and Rossouw followed after scoring a 30-ball fifty. Despite some wides from Wiese and a six from Mikyle Louis, Joseph bowled a tight final over, restricting the Patriots to 173/5.

Brief scores:  

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 173/5 in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 62, Rilee Rossouw 50; Alzarri Joseph 2-38)  

Saint Lucia Kings 176/5 in 16.3 overs (Johnson Charles 74, Faf du Plessis 62; Wanindu Hasaranga 2-13)  

Kings won by 5 wickets.