The Trinbago Knight Riders pulled off a thrilling five-wicket victory over the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Wednesday night in a pulsating Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) encounter at Queen's Park Oval. A pair of back-to-back sixes from Tim David at the start of the final over sealed the win for the Knight Riders, capping off a match that was filled with drama and shifts in momentum.

The match began with a touch of sentimentality as Knight Riders' captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and elected to field first. Before the action got underway, the team gave Dwayne Bravo a touching guard of honor, recognizing what could be the veteran all-rounder's final game at the iconic venue following his earlier announcement of retirement from the CPL. However, once play began, the Knight Riders showed no mercy, reducing the Warriors to 76-7 with a disciplined bowling performance.

Romario Shepherd, however, staged a crucial lower-order fightback for the Warriors. Shepherd's gritty half-century helped his team recover from their precarious position, steering them to a competitive total of 148-7. His innings injected life back into the contest and set the stage for a tense chase under the lights at Queen's Park Oval.

The Knight Riders' response was anything but straightforward. Struggling to find the boundary during the middle overs, they found themselves precariously placed at 89/5. With the game hanging in the balance, the 17th over proved to be the turning point. Andre Russell, who was named Player of the Match, took charge by smashing three sixes off Nathan Sowter's bowling. This onslaught not only revived the Knight Riders' chase but also shifted the momentum firmly in their favor, reducing the required runs to a manageable figure.

Speaking after the game, Russell revealed his mindset during the tense chase. "The mindset was that I know I can hit sixes and that Tim David is a six-hitter as well. I told him that we had 24 balls, and we had to hit eight sixes," Russell said.

The final over began with Tim David on strike, and he wasted no time in sealing the victory. With consecutive sixes, David secured the five-wicket win for the Knight Riders, sending the home crowd into raptures and ensuring a fairytale finish was still possible for Dwayne Bravo in this year's CPL.

An emotional Russell paid tribute to his teammate Bravo after the match. "Who I am today has a lot to do with him. I am just happy to be part of this game. That's why it was an emotional celebration; he deserved that win... I think he'll shed a tear tonight. This one is for DJ Bravo," he said, highlighting the bond between the two cricketing stalwarts.

The match was a high-class affair, played with intensity and sportsmanship as both teams fought to secure a spot in the latter stages of the competition. With this victory, the Knight Riders move up to eight points from five games, positioning themselves well for a deep run in the tournament. For the Warriors, the loss was a setback, but their spirited performance ensured they remain in contention as the competition progresses.

As the CPL season heats up, the Knight Riders' victory has added to the excitement, and with Bravo's retirement storyline still in play, the 2024 CPL promises more drama and memorable moments in the matches to come.

 

 

 

 

 

Alick Athanaze played a vital innings of 92 to help the West Indies secure a hard-fought draw against South Africa in the rain-affected first Test at Queen's Park Oval on Sunday. Chasing an imposing target of 298 runs for victory, the West Indies were in early trouble but managed to salvage the match thanks to Athanaze's resilience and key contributions from his teammates.

South Africa, resuming their second innings at 30 without loss, quickly raced to 173 for 3 in just 29 overs before declaring, setting the West Indies a challenging target. Tony de Zorzi and Aiden Markram gave the visitors a solid start, scoring 45 and 38, respectively, before Tristan Stubbs injected urgency into the innings with a blistering 68 off 50 balls. His dismissal by Kemar Roach in the 29th over prompted South African captain Temba Bavuma to declare, leaving himself unbeaten on 15.

The West Indies' chase got off to a disastrous start, losing captain Kraigg Brathwaite for a duck in the first over. Mikyle Louis followed for nine, leaving the hosts reeling at 18 for 2. However, Alick Athanaze and Kaecy Carty began the process of rebuilding, putting together a valuable 46-run partnership before Carty was dismissed for 31 by Maharaj.

Athanaze continued to anchor the innings, forging another crucial stand of 63 runs with Kavem Hodge, who was also dismissed by Maharaj for 29. Athanaze's innings was a masterclass in patience and shot selection, as he found another steady partner in Jason Holder. The duo added 65 runs for the fourth wicket, with Athanaze inching closer to a well-deserved century.

Hodge made 29

Unfortunately, he fell just eight runs short of his maiden Test century, sweeping Maharaj to fine leg where he was caught. His innings, however, ensured that the West Indies could stave off defeat, with Jason Holder remaining unbeaten on 31 and Joshua da Silva not out on two when Bavuma decided to end proceedings, declaring the match a draw.

Maharaj was the pick of the South African bowlers once again, adding another four-wicket haul to his match tally, finishing with figures of 4 for 88 in the West Indies' second innings. His performance followed an equally impressive first-innings effort of 4 for 76.

Speaking after the match, West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite expressed satisfaction with his team's batting display in the second innings. "I'm happy with our batting group. The guys were quite positive, and I'm so proud of the batting unit. We believed we could get those runs, and although it wasn't going to be easy, the fight and resilience shown were commendable," Brathwaite said.

He continued, "The pitch here in the Caribbean can be a bit slower, so it's about adjusting when to go slow and when to accelerate. Alick showed us that today with his approach. His plan was to sweep, and even though he got out to a sweep, he stuck to it and nearly got his century. Hodge was also good in England, and it's about continuing to build on these performances."

The first Test ended in a draw, but it was a match that saw both teams show their strengths. The West Indies will take confidence from their batting performance as they prepare for the second Test, knowing that they have the ability to challenge South Africa in the upcoming encounters.

The second Test gets underway at Providence in Guyana on August 15.

 

 

 

After starting positively on the opening day, which was lost to rain, West Indies bowlers were made to toil on Thursday’s second day as half-centuries from captain Temba Bavuma and Tony de Zorzi propelled South Africa into a commanding position at 342-8 in the first Test at Queen’s Park Oval.

De Zorzi, the Proteas’ opening batter, was dismissed for 78 before lunch, while Bavuma was dismissed late in the day for 80, allowing West Indies to gradually claw their way back into the contest. Wiaan Mulder, not out on 37, and Kagiso Rabada, on 12, will resume batting for South Africa on Friday’s third day.

Jomel Warrican has been the pick of the Caribbean bowlers so far, with Kemar Roach (2-53) and Jayden Seales (2-57) also picking up key wickets.

Scores: South Africa 342 for 8 (Bavuma 86, de Zorzi 78, Warrican 3-66) vs West Indies

Resuming at 45-1 on a slow pitch that requires patience instead of flair, South Africa were initially kept quiet by West Indies' senior seamers Kemar Roach and Jason Holder, who started on good lengths but were punished as soon as they strayed.

While de Zorzi, who resumed on 32, got to his 50 off 78 balls, Tristan Stubbs (20) didn’t have the same luck as he edged a delivery from Roach to Holder in the slip cordon, adding only 18 to his overnight score of two.

Bavuma, in his first Test innings since March 2023, and de Zorzi kept West Indies at bay with a 51-run third wicket stand, which was eventually broken when the latter gloved to Kavem Hodge off Warrican shortly before the lunch interval.

After the break, Bavuma again dropped anchor and allowed his partner, David Bedingham, to take the fight to West Indies in a partnership worth 50 runs. Bedingham (29) later holed out to debutant Keacy Carty off Seales.

Ryan Rickelton (19) came and went shortly after watching Bavuma raise his 21st Test fifty. However, the captain was later trapped in front, and as the day draws to a close, Warrican struck twice, removing Kyle Vereynne (39) and Keshav Maharaj (zero) to keep West Indies in contention.

With the Diego Martin Sports Complex in Trinidad and Tobago being unavailable, Cricket West Indies (CWI) recently announced venue changes, which will result in Jamaica Scorpions playing their remaining West Indies Championship fixtures at Sabina Park.

The changes affect rounds 4, 5, 6, and 7 of the competition, with venues being shifted to ensure the tournament match schedule proceeds as planned.

According to CWI's Director of Cricket, Miles Bascombe, these adjustments are part of CWI's ongoing effort to provide the best possible conditions for competitive first class cricket and to showcase the talent within the region.

“We have witnessed three very exciting rounds of first-class cricket with thrilling team and individual performances. The stage is now set going into rounds four and five for some teams to try to build on their momentum and others to gather some having had the chance to regroup and rejuvenate. CWI will continue to work with WIPA, our host Boards and venues to ensure that conditions for play are the best on offer given the constraints and that in the end the championship will be decided by the contest between bat and ball," Bascombe said, adding that CWI looks forward to welcoming fans to the new venues and encourage their continued support for their teams throughout the championship.

Among those to benefit is Jamaica's Sabina Park, which up until recently, scarcely hosted any cricket event. After hosting games in the first three rounds of the tournament, the 'Cricket Mecca' as the venue is known, will host another four rounds of games involving the Scorpions.

The West Indies Championship games will be streamed live with ball-by-ball commentary on the Windies Cricket YouTube channel.

Updated Schedule:

Round 4 (March 13 - 16):

CCC vs Leeward Island Hurricanes will now be hosted at the Sir Frank Worrell Cricket Ground (UWISPEC) in Trinidad.

Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - Queen’s Park Oval (QPO), Trinidad.

Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Barbados Pride has been moved to the Coolidge Cricket Ground (CCG) in Antigua.

Jamaica Scorpions vs West Indies Academy will take place at Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Round 5 (March 20 – 23):

Jamaica Scorpions vs Leeward Island Hurricanes has been relocated to Sabina Park in Jamaica.

Guyana Harpy Eagles vs Windward Volcanoes has been relocated to CCG in Antigua.

CCC vs West Indies Academy will now be contested at UWI SPEC in Trinidad.

Trinidad &Tobago Red Force vs Barbados Pride – QPO in Trinidad.

Round 6 (April 10 - 13):

CCC vs Trinidad and Tobago Red Force is now scheduled for UWI SPEC in Trinidad.

Jamaica Scorpions vs Guyana Harpy Eagles - Sabina Park, Jamaica.

Leeward Hurricanes vs Barbados Pride - Sir Vivian Richards Stadium (SVRS), Antigua.

West Indies Academy vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - CCG, Antigua.

Round 7 (April 17 – 20):

CCC vs Guyana Harpy Eagles will take place at UWI SPEC in Trinidad.

Jamaica Scorpions vs Trinidad &Tobago Red Force - Sabina Park, Jamaica.

Leeward Islands Hurricanes vs Windward Islands Volcanoes - SVRS, Antigua.

West Indies Academy vs Barbados Pride - CCG, Antigua.

Captain Kraigg Brathwaite and fellow opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul placed West Indies on a steady foundation, but they are still left with much to do, after Virat Kohli registered a 29th Test century to put India in full command at the end of day two action at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad and Tobago on Friday.

Brathwaite ended the day unbeaten on 37, with the Caribbean side at 86-1 in their first innings, still 352 runs behind the visitors, after losing Chanderpaul for 33 shortly before close in this, the 100th Test between the two teams. India lead the two-test series 1-0.

India resumed from their overnight score of 288-4 and though West Indies bowled with some amount of purpose, they couldn’t stop the opponents from posting a daunting 438 all out, just prior to the tea interval.

Kohli scored 121, his first hundred away from home in five years, while Ravendra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin, both added half-centuries to what is massive total, give the feeble nature of West Indies batting.

Left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican snared two of the last four wickets to end with 3-89 from 39 overs. He had support from veteran pacer Kemar Roach, who had 3-104 from 22 overs, and Jason Holder, who had 2-57 from 21 overs, as West Indies took the last four Indian wickets for a mere 43 runs.

West Indies started their reply in a solid manner, as Chanderpaul and Brathwaite withstood early pressure from India’s seamers, and later capitalised on the hard, easy-paced surface.

The openers hardly played a stroke wrong and had the bowling at their mercy until Jadeja, bowling his left-arm spin, had Chanderpaul caught at backward point, from an ill-advised lofted drive.

It brought Jamaican debutant Kirk McKenzie to the middle and the young left-handed batsman displayed confidence throughout his half-hour knock which included a lofted drive over long-off for six off Ashwin’s off-spin. He will resume on 14 alongside his captain on Saturday’s third day in which they will be targeting at least 239 to avoid being asked to follow-on.

Earlier, Kohli raised a well-deserved century, partnering with Jadeja in a 159-run fifth wicket stand that pushed India past the 350-run mark.

Kohli’s 76th milestone knock came from 180 balls and included 11 boundaries.

Jadeja reached his 50 from 105 balls, before West Indies grabbed a breakthrough when Kohli was run out by Alzarri Joseph.

Further success came for the hosts five overs later when Roach got Jadeja caught behind for 61 after reviewing a negative verdict from South African umpire Marais Erasmus.

West Indies maintained steady bowling in tough conditions after the visitors continued from their lunchtime total of 373 for six, and it paid dividends, though Ashwin defied them to carve out 56.

Holder had Ishan Kishan caught behind for 25, and after being frustrated by Jaydev Unadkat and Ashwin, they eventually made inroads when Warrican had the former stumped.

The spinner then accounted for Mohammed Siraj for a duck, before Roach brought the innings to a close when he had the last laugh in against Ashwin, who smashed three boundaries off in the same over in is 75-ball 50.

Alick Athanaze and Tevyn Walcott both scored half-centuries but Akeem Jordan’s five-wicket haul restricted the Windward Islands Volcanoes to a first-innings score of 237 on the opening day of their fifth-round West Indies Championship match against Barbados Pride at Queens Park Oval on Thursday.

At stumps, Barbados were 48-0, trailing by 189 runs.

Athanaze, who has been in good form all season, scored 59 while rescuing the Volcanoes from a tenuous 17-3. He and Sunil Ambris added 47 for the fourth wicket. Ambris was trapped lbw by Roshon Primus for 28 after Windwards Islands Volcanoes recovered somewhat to 64-4.

Athanaze was to feature in another solid partnership, this time 98 with Walcott for the fifth wicket that added further stability to the score. However, Akeem Jordan who earlier picked up the wickets of openers Kimani Melius for a duck and Johann Jeremiah for 11, snapped up the wickets of Walcott for 55 and then Athanaze for 59 as the Windwards slipped to 164-6.

Primus made it 166-7 when he dismissed Larry Edward for one.

After Jordan dismissed Kenneth Dember for six and Jomel Warrican removed Sherman Lewis for nine, Ryan John and Preston McSween added 31 before Warrican ended John’s resolute innings for 41.

Jordan returned figures of 5-44 with Primus supporting with 2-44 and Warrican 2-57.

At the close, Barbados were 48-0 with Zachary McCaskie and Sheyne Moseley, the batsmen at the crease on 21 and 26, respectively.

 

 

Opener Zachary McCaskie hit his second fifty of the game to lead the Barbados Pride to a seven-wicket victory over the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force on day four of their fourth-round fixture at Queen’s Park Oval on Saturday.

The Pride started day four 52-2 off 23 overs, needing a further 66 runs to win with McCaskie and Jomel Warrican at the crease on 29 and zero, respectively.

Only Warrican was dismissed for the Bajans as they needed only 14.4 overs on Saturday to complete a successful chase.

They ended up 118-3 off 37.4 overs. McCaskie, who made a career-best 92 in the first innings, ended 55* while Jonathan Drakes produced a 29-ball 27*.

Bryn Charles took 3-29 off 16 overs for the Red Force.

Opener Zachary McCaskie fell eight runs shy of a maiden first-class hundred as the Barbados Pride hold a 37-run lead over the Trinidad & Tobago Red Force after day two of their fourth-round fixture at the Queen’s Park Oval

At lunch, the Pride were 108-3 off 40 overs. Zachary McCaskie and Shane Dowrich were the batsmen at the crease on 71 and two, respectively.

McCaskie carried on after lunch and looked set for his maiden first-class ton before he fell for 92.

At tea, the Pride were 222-6 off 72 overs. Roshon Primus and Akeem Jordan were the batsmen at the crease on 38 and 22, respectively.

Shortly after tea, Primus brought up his fifty before being dismissed for a 71-ball 53.

Eventually, the Pride were bowled out for 271 in 85 overs, a first innings lead of 68 runs.

The Red Force were 31-2 in their second innings at stumps, trailing by 37 runs with Darren Bravo (20) and Brian Charles (5) at the crease.

Chaim Holder’s five-wicket haul has put Barbados Pride in control at stumps on day one of their fourth-round West Indies Championship match at Queens Park Oval on Wednesday.

Holder was the spearhead of the Barbados attack taking 5-71 as the Red Force were bundled out for 203 in 75-3 overs. At the close, Barbados were 40-0.

Jason Mohammed spared the Red Force blushes with his score of 55 but other than Tion Webster, who contributed 46 and Joshua Da Silva 32, the other batters failed to show. Darren Bravo who has two hundreds and a 95 in the competition so far managed only seven as Trinidad crawled to 76-3 from the first 33 overs.

Jair McAllister also got in on the wickets taking 3-31 as the hosts struggled to find runs.

At the close, Barbados trail by 163 runs with all wickets intact.

Zachary McCaskie is at the crease on 21 while Sheyne Moseley is unbeaten on 19 at the other end.

 

Kieran Powell made his ninth first-class hundred to lead the Leeward Islands Hurricanes to a seven-wicket win over the Barbados Pride on day three at the Queen’s Park Cricket Ground on Friday.

The day started with the Hurricanes 13-0 in pursuit of 247 for victory.

Initially, it looked like it would be an easy chase as Montcin Hodge and Kieran Powell put on 69 for the first wicket before Hodge went off the bowling of Camarie Boyce for 34 in the 11th over.

It was quickly 87-2 as Akeem Saunders fell to Chaim Holder for nine in the 14th over. Holder got his second wicket when he dismissed Devon Thomas for four in the 20th over to leave the Hurricanes 101-3.

101-3 became 103-4 as Hayden Walsh became Holder’s third victim before lunch for just two.

At the interval, the Leewards were 147-4 off 30 overs needing a further 100 runs for the win with Powell on 74 and Jahmar Hamilton on 15.

Their partnership reached 120 before Hamilton went for 55 with the score on 223 in the 43rd over.

With no more runs added, Powell was next to go for a well-made 104 off 109 balls leaving the Hurricanes 223-6 off 43.1 overs.

The Hurricanes then lost a third wicket with the score on 223 when Jeremiah Louis was dismissed by Jair McAllister for a duck.

They lost another when Kofi James went caught off the bowling of Dominic Drakes for 14 leaving the Hurricanes 243-8, needing just four runs to win.

Cornwall, one ball after being dropped at slip, hit the winning runs off Jair McAllister in the 50th over to finish 10 not out.

Chaim Holder finished with 3-38 off 10 overs while Jair McAllister and Camarie Boyce took two wickets apiece.

Scores: Barbados Pride 322 off 91.5 overs (Shane Dowrich 124*, Chaim Holder 43, Rakheem Cornwall 6-50, Sheeno Berridge 2-39) and 78 off 23.2 overs (Zachary McCaskie 29, Sheyne Moseley 27, Rakheem Cornwall 5-19, Devon Thomas 5-22)

Leeward Islands Hurricanes 154 off 42 overs (Jahmar Hamilton 30, Jeremiah Louis 24, Colin Archibald 24, Dominic Drakes 3-38, Chaim Holder 2-7, Jair McAllister 2-36, Shemar Springer 2-48) and 247-8 off 49.2 overs (Kieran Powell 104, Jahmar Hamilton 55, Montcin Hodge 34, Chaim Holder 3-38, Jair McAllister 2-47, Camarie Boyce 2-59).

 

 

 

Rahkeem Cornwall enjoyed a six-wicket haul but Shane Dowrich offered stern resistance, scoring an unbeaten 116 to steer Barbados Pride to 294-8 on the opening day of their West Indies Championship third-round match against the Leeward Islands Hurricanes at Queens Park Oval on Wednesday.

Barbados had been reduced to 53-3 after Cornwall dismissed opener Shayne Moseley for four and Zachary McCaskie for 26. Sheeno Berridge then dismissed Johnathan Carter for a duck when Dowrich arrived at the crease.

It was soon 57-4 after Johnathan Drakes fell to Cornwall for 22.

However, Dowrich provided some steel to the line-up sharing in a fifth-wicket stand of 92 with Kevin Wickham, who made 41 before became Cornwall’s fourth scalp. Cornwall would also pick up the wickets of Shemar Springer (4) and Dominic Drakes (22) after the latter and Dowrich had ground out 47 for the seventh wicket.

Chaim Holder offered some stout resistance scoring 43 as he and Dowrich mounted a 73-run partnership for the eighth wicket before he lost his wicket to Colin Archibald as it neared close of play.

Dowrich, who has so far hit nine fours and a six in his 191-ball stay at the crease and Camarie Boyce (8 not out) were at the crease at stumps.

Cornwall closed the day with 6-50 from 24 overs and will be hoping to add to his tally as Barbados try to push their score past 300 on Thursday.

 

 

 

The Guyana Harpy Eagles became the first team to advance to the semi-finals of the 2022 CG Insurance Super50 Cup when they defeated the Combined Campuses and Colleges by 129 runs at the Queens Park Oval in Trinidad & Tobago on Saturday.

 The Harpy Eagles were bowled out for a formidable 266 in 47.3 overs thanks to an 88-ball 75 from Tevin Imlach including only one four and two sixes.

Opener Kemol Savory also got a half-century with 69 and Kevin Sinclair contributed 27.

Matthew Forde (2-41 from nine overs), Amari Goodridge (2-55 from 9.3 overs), Romario Greaves (2-65 from 10 overs) and Isaiah Ali (2-39 from nine overs) were the wicket-takers for the CCC.

In reply, only former West Indies captain Denesh Ramdin (32 not out) and opener Kirstan Kallicharan (32) were able to provide any resistance for the CCC as they were bowled out for 137 in just 36.1 overs.

Kevin Sinclair completed a solid all-round performance with 3-26 from his 10 overs while Nial Smith took 3-21 from 6.1. Gudakesh Motie and Romario Shepherd took two wickets each.

Guyana finished Zone A with 16 points from their six outings and will be joined in the last four by the winner of the ongoing game between the Trinidad and Tobago Red Force and the Windward Islands Volcanoes.

The Trinidad & Tobago Red Force rebounded from a loss against the Guyana Harpy Eagles with a seven-wicket win over the Windward Islands Volcanoes in their CG Insurance Super50 Cup fixture at the Queens Park Oval on Saturday.

The Volcanoes were restricted to 189 all out in 47 overs after winning the toss and choosing to bat.

Kavem Hodge followed up his hundred against the CCC with a top-score of 39 while Tevyn Walcott made 36 against Yannic Cariah’s 3-34 from 10 overs. Shannon Gabriel and Terrance Hinds took two wickets each in support.

The Red Force chase was a simple one thanks to an excellent 88-ball 66 from Joshua Da Silva including six fours and one six. Opener Kjorn Ottley continued his good form this season with 36 while captain Nicholas Pooran and Darren Bravo finished not out on 36 and 27, respectively as the Red Force ended 195-3 off 43 overs.

Dominican left-hander Alick Athanaze struck a brilliant 133 to help the Windward Islands secure a 28-run victory over the Guyana Harpy Eagles in the CG Insurance Super50 Cup at the Queens Park Oval in Port-of-Spain on Monday.

The Harpy Eagles won the toss and elected to field, quickly regretting that decision as Windward Islands openers Athanaze and Johnson Charles put on 119 before Charles became Gudakesh Motie’s first wicket for a 63-ball 64 in the 23rd over.

Athanaze then belted the bowling all over the Queens Park Oval, putting on a further 127 for the second wicket with Kavem Hodge. In the process, Athanaze brought up his maiden List A hundred, eventually being dismissed for 133 in the 43rd over with the score on 246. His century included 12 fours and four sixes and came off 140 deliveries.

Hodge (42) and captain Andre Fletcher (8) were the other batsmen dismissed as the Windwards were able to post an excellent 296-4 off their 50 overs. Motie took 2-57 for Guyana.

In their reply, Guyana got contributions from most of their batsmen but it wasn’t enough in the end. Opener Tagenarine Chanderpaul, recently called up to the West Indies Test squad for the first time, was the chief scorer with a 47-ball 48 including six fours.

Contributions from Anthony Bramble (18), Leon Johnson (22), Sherfane Rutherford (28) and Kevin Sinclair (33) meant that after 40.1 overs, Guyana found themselves 220-9 needing 77 runs from 59 balls for victory.

The final pair of Gudakesh Motie and Veerasammy Permaul put up a valiant effort with a partnership of 48 before Permaul’s dismissal for 28 meant the Harpy Eagles were bowled out for 268 in 46.4 overs, giving the Windwards the 28-run win. Motie finished 31 not out off 27 balls. Shadrack Descarte took 3-41 off eight overs while Ryan John and Kenneth Dember took 2-54 and 2-46, respectively.

Barbados Royals kept their unbeaten run intact as they made it six wins from six in Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) following victory over the Trinbago Knight Riders on Tuesday night.

The Royals won the toss and opted to field first and took full advantage of that decision with their spinners Rahkeem Cornwall and Mujeeb Ur Rahman causing havoc upfront.

Four wickets fell in the first seven overs and the Knight Riders struggled to get back into the game. 

Nicholas Pooran put up a valiant fight with a battling half-century but the 132 they posted was short of a competitive total. 

If there were any lingering doubts in the Royals' minds about chasing the total in front of a raucous Queens Park Oval, Kyle Mayers didn’t read the script. He hit a blistering 79 to stun the home crowd and lead the Royals to a comfortable win.

The Queens Park Oval was silenced inside the PowerPlay as the Royals took out the Knight Riders' top order.

 Cornwall and the debuting Mujeeb Ur Rahman dismissed Tion Webster, Colin Munro and Tim Seifert in quick succession to leave Nicholas Pooran and Kieron Pollard with a major rescue job on their hands.

 When Pollard fell to Ur Rahman straight after the PowerPlay all looked lost for the Knight Riders but Pooran and Sunil Narine put together a fine rebuilding partnership to leave the home team well set at 100-4 with five overs to go.

 However, when Obed McCoy bowled Pooran for a well-constructed 52 off 44 balls, that signalled the end of the Knight Riders' fight back. The remaining batters stuttered their way to a total of 132 which was not enough against the irresistible Barbados Royals.

 If the Knight Riders were going to have a chance then a lot depended on taking wickets in the PowerPlay, Daryn Dupavillon provided the early joy clean bowling Cornwall for 1.

 But that was to be as good as it got as the Hero CPL leading run scorer, Kyle Mayers, hit a stunning 79 from 35 balls to guide the Royals to the edge of victory. 

 Corbin Bosch and Quinton De Kock saw out the remaining runs with minimum fuss to ensure the Royals remain unbeaten. 

Scores: Barbados Royals 136-2 (Mayers 79, Bosch 33*; Dupavillon 2-30) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 132 (Pooran 52, Narine 30; Ur Rahman 3-17, Cornwall 2-27) by 8 wickets

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