CPL

Wiese takes five again as Kings boot defending champion Knight Riders to seal place in final

By CPLT20 September 14, 2021

A high-scoring thriller saw Saint Lucia Kings reach the final of the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) and eliminate defending champions Trinbago Knight Riders.

The Saint Lucia Kings won the toss and chose to bat. Mark Deyal got the side off to a flying start and they maintained a high intensity throughout the innings, as Tim David and David Wiese combined to cause carnage in the latter overs, taking the side to a mammoth 205 for 4 after their 20 overs.  

Trinbago Knight Riders got off to a fast start in response but slowly unravelled amidst a growing run rate, as David Wiese took his second five-wicket haul of this year’s Hero CPL to end their title defence as they finished on 184 all out. 

Saint Lucia Kings had got off to a troublesome start as Rahkeem Cornwall was caught out in the first over. Yet Deyal would come in and play with an attacking intent that saw him launch eleven boundaries and reach his highest ever T20 score, 78 off just 44 balls. Roston Chase would aid the side with a valuable knock before David and Wiese came in and formed a destructive partnership: 75 runs coming off the last 34 balls. Despite the high score, Sunil Narine was excellent with the ball for the Trinbago Knight Riders, conceding a paltry twelve runs from his four overs. 


Trinbago Knight Riders responded with a strong start, scoring 66 runs in the Powerplay for just the loss of one wicket, as Narine and Colin Munro kept the required run rate within reach. However, Wiese starred with the ball as he took both their wickets, adding pressure to the chase. Despite quick-fire cameos from Darren Bravo and captain Kieron Pollard, it was not enough as the champions faltered under disciplined bowling from Alzarri Joseph and Wahab Riaz. Wiese then capped off a superb game by taking late wickets to reach his five-wicket haul. 

Saint Lucia Kings reached their second successive Hero CPL final with the win and the result means we will have a new champion this year.

 

 

Related items

  • Louis and Athanaze lead West Indies recovery to close balanced opening day at 250-5 Louis and Athanaze lead West Indies recovery to close balanced opening day at 250-5

    Mikyle Louis and Alick Athanaze came heartbreakingly close to maiden Test centuries but fell in the nineties as the West Indies closed the opening day of the first Test against Bangladesh at 250-5 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Their 140-run partnership for the fourth wicket proved pivotal, turning the momentum firmly in favor of the hosts after early struggles.

    Louis, playing with patience and determination, was dismissed for 97 after spending 27 balls in the nineties. He charged at Bangladesh’s stand-in captain and spinner Mehidy Hasan Miraz but was caught at slip by Shahadat Hossain. Athanaze, who had been steadily accelerating, fell three overs later for 90, edging Taijul Islam behind. It marked the second time in Athanaze’s brief Test career that he had been dismissed in the nineties.

    The pair’s stand was the backbone of the West Indies innings, revitalizing the side after early setbacks. Captain Kraigg Brathwaite fell for 4, trapped lbw by Taskin Ahmed, and Keacy Carty departed soon after for a duck, caught at mid-on trying to flick Taskin. At 12-2, the West Indies were under pressure until Louis and Kavem Hodge steadied the ship.

     Hodge, who made 25, was run out after a brilliant throw from Taijul Islam at long leg. His dismissal brought Athanaze to the crease, and together with Louis, he set about rebuilding and eventually dominating the Bangladesh bowling attack.

     Louis reached his half-century with a straight drive off Taskin, showcasing his ability to punish loose deliveries amidst a largely cautious approach. Athanaze took a more aggressive route, particularly in the final session, finding the boundary with sweeps, reverse sweeps, and cuts as he raised the scoring rate.

     Louis’s innings included nine boundaries and a six, while Athanaze struck 12 fours and a six. Their contrasting styles complemented each other, as they added 140 runs at a brisk pace, frustrating Bangladesh’s bowlers, who had earlier kept the scoring rate in check.

     After their departures, Justin Greaves and Joshua Da Silva stabilized the innings against the second new ball. Greaves ended the day unbeaten, with Da Silva scoring freely in the closing overs before bad light and a drizzle brought an early end to proceedings after 84 overs.

     Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to capitalize on the early breakthroughs. Taskin Ahmed was the pick of the attack with figures of 2-46, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1-45) and Taijul Islam (1-56) provided moments of control but lacked consistency. The fielding unit also let opportunities slip, including a dropped catch off Louis when he was in the nineties.

     The West Indies will resume on day two with five wickets in hand and an opportunity to push toward a commanding first-innings total. Bangladesh will look to capitalize on the breakthroughs late on day one and restrict the hosts in the morning session.

     For the West Indies, the day belonged to Louis and Athanaze, whose near-centuries not only steadied the innings but also put the team in a strong position as they aim to set the tone in the series.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Starc hails 'fantastic bowler' Bumrah after day one in Perth Starc hails 'fantastic bowler' Bumrah after day one in Perth

    Australia seamer Mitchell Starc heaped praise on Jasprit Bumrah's performance on day one of their Test against India in Perth.

    India struggled with the bat and finished their first innings on 150, with Rishabh Pant (37) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (41) helping them to improve on a poor start.

    However, the tourists wrestled back control, leaving Australia on 67-7 at the close of play, thanks to Bumrah's inspired display.

    On Friday, 17 wickets fell, the most on the opening day of a Test in Australia since 1952.

    He finished on 4-17, leaving Australia 19-3 inside the seventh over as he took Usman Khawaja, Nathan McSweeney and Steve Smith in quick succession.

    Starc will start at the crease alongside Alex Carey on day two, and he was impressed by Bumrah's efficiency with the ball.

    "So, there's no surprise that he's [Bumrah] been a fantastic bowler across the formats for a long time," Starc said.

    "And again, his skills were on show [on Friday] as to how, how good he is. So, yeah, I'm sure there's something in that release point.

    "That's significant to his action. It's something a lot of people can't do, so I'm not, I'm certainly not going to go and try it. I'll probably snap."

  • Archer back in IPL auction despite being left off the shortlist Archer back in IPL auction despite being left off the shortlist

    Jofra Archer will be in the IPL auction after all, having been left off the shortlist initially.

    The fast bowler was an entry on the longlist but did not appear among the names after it had been whittled down to 574 last week.

    There had been no word from Archer as to why he had pulled out of the auction and re-entered, although the prospect of playing in the IPL in future could have been key.

    According to new rules in the competition, a player will be ineligible to play in the IPL for two years if they do not enter the auction.

    Archer has struggled with injury since 2020 and has carefully worked his way back from an elbow problem he suffered last year. Having been part of England's white-ball set-up since May, he has a desire to get back into Test cricket.

    The 29-year-old has not played the longest form of the game in nearly four years and, if picked for the IPL, could find it harder to get back into it.

    With the early rounds of the County Championship season clashing with the IPL, it could harm Archer's ability to prove his fitness and reduce his chances of playing in a home Test in 2025. Additionally, he could also find it difficult to force his way in for the Ashes in Australia next winter.