Faf du Plessis delighted as St Lucia Kings claim maiden CPL title
By Leighton Levy
October 07, 2024
St Lucia Kings captain Faf du Plessis expressed his delight after leading his team to their maiden Caribbean Premier League (CPL) title on Sunday night, overcoming the defending champions Guyana Amazon Warriors in a thrilling final. Chasing a target of 139, the Kings were in a precarious position at 51-4, but a crucial 88-run partnership between Aaron Jones and Roston Chase guided the Darren Sammy-coached franchise to a memorable six-wicket victory at the Providence Stadium.
The Kings’ captain, visibly elated after securing the long-awaited title, emphasized the significance of the win for the franchise. “This franchise has been looking to get that trophy for a long time. Against this opposition, in front of a big crowd—there's no bigger place to play a final,” du Plessis said, acknowledging the challenging nature of the contest. “I would have liked it a bit easier, to be honest!”
Du Plessis praised the Kings’ bowling unit for their disciplined performance, which restricted the Warriors to 138-8. He highlighted the importance of a positive mindset when chasing what was initially thought to be a competitive total. “I was very happy with the bowling. It was a decent decision [at the toss]. We were very positive to get that score. In our minds, we wanted to play very positively.”
The match turned dramatically in the 16th over of the Kings' chase, when Aaron Jones unleashed a ferocious onslaught, smashing 27 runs off Moeen Ali’s over to swing the momentum in his team's favor. Jones, who had been under pressure early in his innings, finished unbeaten on 48 off 31 balls, while Chase played a vital supporting role with 39 from 22 deliveries. Du Plessis lauded the composure shown by both batters under pressure.
“For Jones and Chase to absorb the pressure was incredible,” du Plessis said. “If you look throughout the competition, there are no superstars here. Just two or three overs made a really big difference. The ball starts to get wet, and that changed things for us.”
Guyana Amazon Warriors captain Imran Tahir reflected on his team’s defeat, admitting that their struggles with the bat cost them the chance to defend their title. “We didn't start well with the bat. We knew dew was going to come... Tough luck today. I also want to congratulate St Lucia Kings,” Tahir said. “If we batted better, we could have had 170 or 180. That is a good score on this pitch, especially with the spinners we have. Just one over took it away.”
Tahir praised Romario Shepherd for his late innings contributions with the bat, but rued the missed opportunities by the middle order. “We were putting pressure on them. It could be one more dismissal, and you never know,” he added.
Meanwhile, Noor Ahmad was named Player of the Tournament after his impressive performances throughout the season, finishing as the second-highest wicket-taker with 22 scalps. Reflecting on the Kings' victory, Ahmad said, “It's quite a special day for us, and for St Lucia. Everyone tried to give their best. We had good planning, and that's what gave us success.”
Roston Chase, who was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance, expressed his joy at finally winning a CPL title after losing two previous finals. “It's a great feeling. I made two finals and lost... I told Aaron [Jones] that we needed a big over, and luckily we got it,” Chase said, highlighting the pivotal moment in the match when the Kings took control of the game.
The victory marks a historic moment for the St Lucia Kings, who finally lifted their first CPL trophy after years of close calls. The team, led by du Plessis and guided by head coach Daren Sammy, showcased resilience and skill, etching their name into CPL history in front of a packed Providence crowd.
Leighton Levy
Leighton Levy is a journalist with 28 years’ experience covering crime, entertainment, and sports. He joined the staff at SportsMax.TV as a content editor two years ago and is enjoying the experience of developing sports content and new ideas. At SportsMax.tv he is pursuing his true passion - sports.
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This victory propelled the Pride—who last tasted glory in the 2016-17 season and reached their last final in 2017-18—into contention for their seventh title.
Scores: Barbados Pride 339-7 (50 overs); Trinidad and Tobago Red Force 186 all out (36.3 overs)
After being sent in to bat, the Pride’s openers, Zachary McCaskie and Leniko Boucher, laid the foundation with a scintillating 142-run partnership. McCaskie, the more aggressive of the pair, entertained with a blistering 94 off just 82 deliveries, smashing six boundaries and six towering sixes.
However, his departure, courtesy of Mark Deyal, did little to disrupt the Pride’s momentum.
This, as Captain Raymond Reifer joined the fray with a brisk 65 and added another crucial 50-run stand with Boucher, who contributed a steady 69 off 84 balls in a knock that had seven boundaries. Reifer's 60-ball knock, which included six fours and a six, epitomized controlled aggression that applied further pressure to the Red Force bowlers.
Even when Boucher fell to Deyal and Kevin Wickham (14) went to spinner Khary Pierre, Reifer, and Roston Chase (43), on return from West Indies duties, added another 50 for the fourth wicket.
Chase’s quick-fire 31-ball knock, which had only two fours and a six, ensured the Pride capitalized on the foundation laid by the top order.
Reifer eventually became Deyal’s third scalp, and Chase went to Shannon Gabriel, but the damage was already done as the Pride were at 297-5 at that point. The lower order contributed the remaining runs to the daunting total.
Deyal stood out for the Red Force with figures of 4-53, but his efforts were insufficient to stem the tide.
Facing a mountain of runs, the Red Force faltered early and never recovered. The only bright spot in their reply was a 68-run second wicket partnership between Tion Webster and Amir Jangoo (16). Webster’s aggressive 56 off 47 balls, which featured eight boundaries and a six, gave fleeting hope before he became the fourth wicket to fall with the score at 91.
After Webster’s dismissal, Deyal (34) and Isiah Rajah (28) added a brief 53-run stand for the seventh wicket, but the Red Force were ultimately bowled out for a paltry 186 in just 36.3 overs.
Dominic Drakes led the Pride’s bowling charge with 3-24, with Chase (2-40) and Kemar Smith (2-42) also doing some damage.
The Pride’s dominance sets up a highly anticipated final against the winner of the Jamaica Scorpions versus Leeward Islands Hurricanes semi-final, scheduled for Thursday.
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Finish well: Andre Coley eyes redemption, momentum as Windies gear up for Bangladesh Test
West Indies Head coach Andre Coley is exuding quiet confidence as his team prepares for their upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh.
With the matches—scheduled for November 22-26 in Antigua and November 30 to December 4 in Kingston—marking the final home series in the current World Test Championship cycle, Coley is determined to see the Caribbean side end the year on a high note after recent setbacks.
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Coley and his team, which includes players from the regional 50-over tournament and recent white-ball series, are currently in Antigua fine-tuning preparations ahead of Friday’s first day.
Despite initial weather disruptions, Coley pointed out that the team has had productive sessions, with all players fit and ready for action.
While West Indies boast a strong home record against Bangladesh, Coley is keen to keep his squad grounded. He recognizes the challenges posed by Bangladesh and the added intrigue of familiar faces on the opposition side, including Bangladesh Head coach Chandika Hathurusingha, a figure Coley knows well.
“Each match brings a different opportunity. We have players who’ve been successful against Bangladesh, both home and away, but we also have some new players who wouldn’t have played in any of those series. So it’s an opportunity for senior players and emerging players to show what they are capable of and what we are capable of as a team,” Coley noted.
The series against Bangladesh serves as a vital stepping stone beyond the larger context of the World Test Championship, as West Indies sit at the foot of the standings in ninth on 20 points.
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“This series is about putting everything together from the last year and a half and ending the year in good form,” he declared.
That said, the Jamaican highlighted the importance of fan support, especially during the festive season. Cricket remains a unifying force in the Caribbean, and Coley hopes that fans will rally behind the team.
“I know that the West Indian fans really want us to do well and have been supportive in their own way because cricket means a lot to the region and the fans are very passionate about the game. Despite the nature of our squad, emerging and experienced players, everyone in the squad wants to do well, so I want to encourage the fans to come out and support us and give us that extra boost of encouragement at home,” Coley ended.
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Global Super League announces schedule change ahead of 2024 Tournament
The ExxonMobil Guyana Global Super League (GSL) has announced a schedule adjustment ahead of its inaugural tournament, which is set to take place at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence. The final will now be held on Friday, 6 December 2024, while the match between Hampshire Hawks and Victoria has been rescheduled to 10:00 AM on Thursday, 5 December 2024.
The tournament, featuring five teams—Guyana Amazon Warriors, Hampshire Hawks, Lahore Qalandars, Rangpur Riders, and Victoria—kicks off on Tuesday, 26 November 2024.
Sir Clive Lloyd, Chairman of the GSL, explained that the schedule changes were made in consultation with Cricket West Indies to avoid potential clashes with preparations for the West Indies' ODI series against Bangladesh.
“While the squads for the West Indies ODI series against Bangladesh have not yet been announced, we wanted to ensure that there was no chance of a clash between the conclusion of the GSL and the preparations for that series,” Lloyd said. “This decision has been made after discussions with Cricket West Indies to ensure the integrity of both the West Indies vs Bangladesh series and the GSL.”
Ticket holders for the affected matches can still use their existing tickets for entry. Those unable to attend the rescheduled games will be eligible for a full refund.
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26 November, 7:00 PM: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Lahore Qalandars
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29 November, 7:00 PM: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Victoria
30 November, 10:00 AM: Hampshire Hawks vs Lahore Qalandars
1 December, 10:00 AM: Rangpur Riders vs Victoria
1 December, 7:00 PM: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Hampshire Hawks
3 December, 7:00 PM: Victoria vs Lahore Qalandars
4 December, 7:00 PM: Guyana Amazon Warriors vs Rangpur Riders
5 December, 10:00 AM: Hampshire Hawks vs Victoria
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6 December, 7:00 PM: Final – First Place vs Second Place
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