Pooran’s Power-Hitting Propels Trinbago Knight Riders

Nicholas Pooran’s unbeaten 93 off 39 balls overshadowed Andre Fletcher’s 61-ball 93, as the Trinbago Knight Riders chased down St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots' challenging 193 with ease, handing the Patriots their ninth straight defeat in CPL 2024. Fletcher had earlier shared a 99-run stand with Kyle Mayers, whose rapid-fire 60 came at a strike rate of 200. However, Pooran, supported by Jason Roy’s blistering 34-ball 64, sealed the chase with nine balls to spare.

On a batting-friendly pitch, the Knight Riders elected to field first, and Akeal Hosein struck early, dismissing Evin Lewis for just 2. But Mayers quickly took charge, smashing Hosein for 12 runs in the first three deliveries he faced, setting the tone for the Patriots' innings. Mayers and Fletcher both targeted Jayden Seales and Andre Russell, launching sixes off each bowler. Dwayne Bravo endured the harshest punishment, with Mayers hitting him for four boundaries and a six in one over, pushing the score to 63/1 by the end of the powerplay.

Chris Jordan managed to slow the onslaught with an economical spell during the middle overs, also removing the dangerous Mayers before the partnership reached 100. Rilee Rossouw contributed a brisk 20 off 11 balls before falling to Seales. Fletcher then shifted gears, attacking Waqar Salamkheil and Jordan in the final overs to lift St. Kitts and Nevis to a formidable 193. Jordan finished as the standout bowler for TKR, taking 2-29 despite being hit for a few big shots in his final over.

In response, TKR's chase started slowly, but Roy soon accelerated, dominating a 43-run opening stand with Keacy Carty. Pooran joined the action in the sixth over and quickly made his presence felt, racing to 12 off his first five balls. By the end of the powerplay, TKR had reached 55/1, with Roy continuing to lead the charge, racing to a 26-ball half-century. At the 10-over mark, TKR were cruising at 100/1, but Tabraiz Shamsi provided a breakthrough, having Roy caught behind after a failed review.

Though SNP managed to slow the run rate for a brief period, Pooran continued his charge. After reaching his half-century off 32 balls, Pooran decided to take control, launching three sixes in an over off Jeremiah Louis, turning the tide firmly in TKR’s favour. Anrich Nortje became the next victim, conceding 18 runs in his final over as Pooran smashed two more sixes. Fittingly, Pooran ended the match with his seventh six, steering TKR to a dominant seven-wicket victory with an over and a half to spare.

Brief Scores:  

St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots: 193/4 in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 93, Kyle Mayers 60; Chris Jordan 2-29)  

Trinbago Knight Riders: 197/3 in 18.3 overs (Nicholas Pooran 93, Jason Roy 64; Kyle Mayers 1-26)