St Lucia Kings Claim First CPL Title

Two months after sprinter Julien Alfred secured St Lucia’s first Olympic gold, Daren Sammy and his St Lucia Kings delivered another historic moment by capturing their maiden CPL title, defeating Guyana Amazon Warriors by six wickets in front of a packed Providence crowd.

The Amazon Warriors had their fans roaring when they reduced the Kings to 51 for 4 while defending a modest target of 139 on a sluggish, unpredictable pitch. The Kings had gone nine overs without hitting a boundary, and with Roston Chase battling illness and Aaron Jones struggling to find his rhythm, the Warriors’ spin attack seemed poised to win back-to-back championships. 

However, Jones flipped the script, dashing the Warriors' hopes with an incredible turnaround. After labouring to 10 off 19 balls, Jones exploded, scoring 38 off his next 12 deliveries, and forged an unbeaten 88-run partnership with Chase, who has been a cornerstone of the Kings for five seasons. Chase played the role of a steady anchor, similar to the style Marlon Samuels has employed for West Indies, rounding off a brilliant week where he also secured a CWI central contract.

Slow Start for the Amazon Warriors

After being sent in to bat on a slow surface, the Amazon Warriors struggled to get going, mustering only 27 runs during the powerplay and losing Rahmanullah Gurbaz (0) in the opening over when he was caught at mid-on. This marked the second-lowest powerplay total for the Warriors in their 13 matches this season.

Khary Pierre shone early with economical figures of 2-0-6-1, while Alzarri Joseph kept Moeen Ali in check before Noor Ahmad claimed Ali’s wicket for 14 off 20 balls. Noor also dismissed Shimron Hetmyer in the same manner, leaving the Warriors at 102 for 7 after 18 overs. Noor finished his spell with 3 wickets for just 19 runs, capping an outstanding season where he took 22 wickets—the second-highest in CPL history behind only Dwayne Bravo's 2015 record.

Shepherd and Pretorius Boost Warriors

Despite their slow start, the Amazon Warriors managed a respectable total thanks to a late surge from Romario Shepherd and Dwaine Pretorius. The duo blasted three sixes and two fours in the final two overs, adding 36 runs to bring the Warriors’ total to 138 for 8.

Amazon Warriors Fight Back

Shepherd then struck with the new ball, dismissing Johnson Charles for seven as he chopped on. However, after bowling that crucial delivery, Shepherd left the field with discomfort. The Warriors’ slower bowlers kept the pressure on, as Faf du Plessis, Ackeem Auguste, and Tim Seifert fell in quick succession, leaving the Kings in a precarious position. Chase and Jones struggled initially to find the boundaries, but their resolve would soon pay off.

Chase and Jones Lead Kings to Glory

After weathering the storm, Chase and Jones unleashed a flurry of boundaries, particularly targeting Moeen Ali’s off-spin. The pair smashed 27 runs off Moeen's 16th over with a barrage of sixes and fours, effectively pulling the game out of the Warriors' reach. Jones continued his onslaught in the next over, taking 20 runs off Pretorius. Although Shepherd returned to bowl, the damage had already been done, and the Kings cruised to victory.

Jones’ explosive innings brought back memories of his unbeaten 94 off 40 balls in the opening game of the 2024 T20 World Cup, celebrating his sixes with passionate fist pumps. That World Cup performance opened the door for his return to the CPL as a local player, and he capped off a memorable night for both himself and the Kings. One of the most enduring images of this triumph will be Coach Daren Sammy embracing Jones in a bear hug, symbolising the joy and unity that fueled the Kings' historic victory.