New Delhi, September 4 (HS): In a commanding performance in Trinidad on Wednesday night (Thursday IST), St Lucia Kings thrashed table-toppers Trinbago Knight Riders by seven wickets with 53 balls to spare, becoming the second team after TKR to book a place in the CPL 2025 playoffs.
The Kings’ triumph was built on the back of a brilliant spin-bowling display. Tabraiz Shamsi spearheaded the attack with a stunning three-wicket haul, while Khary Pierre and Roston Chase chipped in with two wickets apiece to dismantle the Knight Riders’ batting order.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, TKR faltered early. Colin Munro was dismissed off the second ball of the innings by Pierre, setting the tone for a collapse. Darren Bravo tried to inject momentum with a few boundaries but departed soon after. Nicholas Pooran survived a close chance early and briefly counterattacked with consecutive sixes, but wickets kept tumbling at the other end. Alex Hales fell on the final ball of the powerplay, leaving the side reeling at 3 down.
Shamsi’s entry accelerated TKR’s downfall. He struck with his very first delivery to remove Akeal Hosein, before dismissing Pooran and then bowling a dangerous Andre Russell. Kieron Pollard too succumbed to his guile as the middle order folded. Despite a late resistance from Terrance Hinds and Nathan Edwards, who pushed the total past 100, Alzarri Joseph and Matthew Potgieter cleaned up the tail, and TKR were bundled out for a modest 109 in 18.1 overs.
Chasing a modest target, Tim Seifert gave the Kings a blazing start, smashing 14 runs in the opening over. Although Johnson Charles departed early, Seifert combined with Ackeem Auguste for a 40-run partnership. Auguste punished Russell in one over, hammering 20 runs, while Seifert anchored the chase with a fluent 36 before falling. Auguste contributed a brisk 28.
In the end, Roston Chase and David Wiese ensured no hiccups, steering the Kings to 112/3 in just 11.1 overs and wrapping up a dominant victory.
Brief Scores:
Trinbago Knight Riders – 109 all out in 18.1 overs (Nicholas Pooran 30, Nathan Edwards 17; Tabraiz Shamsi 3/12, Roston Chase 2/19)
St Lucia Kings – 112/3 in 11.1 overs (Tim Seifert 36, Ackeem Auguste 28; Sunil Narine 2/28, Usman Tariq 1/26)
Result: St Lucia Kings won by 7 wickets.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
