BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - THE defending Caribbean Premiere League (CPL) champions Trinbago Knight Riders have set up a titanic clash with their archrivals the Jamaica Tallawahs for a place in Sunday’s finals.
The Knight Riders brushed aside the Darren Sammy-led St. Lucia Zouks last evening (Aug. 4) by five wickets at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium.
Looking ahead to this evening’s game, young pace bowler, Ronsford Beaton explained that it would be a challenge coming up against the likes of Chris Gayle and Chadwick Walton, both of whom are in great form this tournament.
“At the end of the day the game would be played with a bat and a ball and don’t try to play names… and we just have to come out and play the same game.”
He told journalists after his team’s victory that they will be resting and looking to come out and repeat the result.
A disappointed Sammy explained to reporters that his team lost the all-important game because they did not score enough runs on a track that was good for batting.
He added that their opening stand with 50 runs from the first five overs should have propelled them to posting a formidable total for the Knight Riders to chase.
“Trinidad, I think wanted it more than us, and T20 is about momentum and you have to try to keep the momentum in your favor and that we did not do. When we bowled, they were off to a flyer and that is always difficult to pull back when you’re defending a low total,” Sammy said.
After winning the toss, the Knight Riders inserted the Zouks and they were off to a quick start through their powerful opening combination of Johnson Charles and Andre Fletcher.
Both batsmen spared the bowlers no mercy, as they belted them all around the park to lay a platform of 62 runs before Charles was dismissed.
Fletcher top-scored for the Zouks, with a run-a-ball 41 that comprised of three 4s and two 6s.
A 40-run cameo from Sammy ensured that his team posted a competitive 164 for 8 off their 20 overs; Beaton was the pick of the bowlers grabbing 3 for 23 from his quota of four overs.
In reply, the Knight Riders cruised to the total on the back of a poor bowling performance from the Zouks which seemed to have no answer for Brendon McCullum's onslaught.
He top scored with 49 runs, comprising of five 4s and one 6s to lead his team to a five-wicket victory.
They would now be looking to ‘put paid’ to the Tallawahs semi-finals run in this evening’s game.
