BR VS SKN T20S

That's a wrap to the first day's play of the 9th edition of the Caribbean Premier League. Trinbago Knight Riders losing their match and their winning streak coming to an end was the biggest story while St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have started brightly and already won the same number of matches they did in the last edition. On 27th August 2021, there are a couple of more matches lined up - Jamaica Tallawahs vs Saint Lucia Kings at 10 am local (2 pm GMT) and Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Royals at 7 pm local (11 pm GMT). Do join us for all the action. Cheers!

Dwayne Bravo, the victorious skipper of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, starts by saying that he was just trying to play the ball on merit and he knew that if they bat deep, they can capitalize in the end overs. Credits Sherfane Rutherford for his knock and for the way he batted. Praises Dominic Drakes by saying he has got the skills and has the ability. Adds that the wicket was bowler-friendly so they were happy to defend 176. Signs off by saying that they will look to regroup and come back again.

Jason Holder, the captain of Barbados Royals, says that they were good with the ball and praises Oshane Thomas for his spell. Feels that they probably gave away 20 runs too many in the end. Tells us that he was not surprised to see Oshane do well as he has done that in the past as well. Mentions that Dwayne Bravo and Sherfane Rutherford batted very well. Further says that they had a good Powerplay but two crucial run outs cost them. Holder is not too disappointed with the loss and says that they now know how the pitch will behave and will take this experience forward.

Sherfane Rutherford is the Man of the Match. Says that he was under some pressure coming into the tournament. Mentions that his skipper made him relax and gave him freedom. Shares that he was training and playing some cricket in New York as in Guyana it was difficult to play due to the rain and pandemic. Tells us that his parents will be watching and they will be proud of him.

Earlier in the day, the Patriots stuttered with the bat at the start and were reeling at the halfway mark. The century stand between Sherfane Rutherford and Dwayne Bravo revived their innings and they ended up finishing strongly with a very challenging total on the board. As it turned out, Barbados Royals never got going with the bat and would have to show a lot of improvement going forward.

Barbados Royals had their moments in this match but failed to capitalize. During the chase, they started strong in the first couple of overs but once they lost both the openers inside 3 overs, Barbados' innings never really got going as they failed to clear the ropes. Their batters needed to put pressure back on the St Kitts spinners in the middle overs which they were not able to do and their required run-rate kept rising. Shai Hope hung in there for his side but did not get any support from other batters. Azam Khan came in at number 6 with some intent but he too fell cheaply while trying to steal a single and get on strike. Once he got out, Barbados Royals' last hope also vanished and they ended up losing their first match of the season.

What a bowling performance this was from St Kitts and Nevis Patriots! They did concede 27 runs in the first two overs but pulled things back in their favour with some clever bowling. Both their spinners, Fawad Ahmed and Fabian Allen, bowled to their plans and Fabian also chipped in with a wicket. Sheldon Cottrell and Dominic Drakes were the pick of the bowlers as they executed their plans really well and both of them got into the wickets column. As a bowling unit, St Kitts would be delighted with the way they have started this season and they would like to carry on with this momentum.

A winning start for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to kick start their campaign! Smiles in their camp. Usually, St Kitts is considered to be a good chasing ground but both the chasing teams lost the match on the first day and this might force the other sides to rethink their plans.

That's it! Short in length and on off, Walsh goes back and pulls it down to long on for a run. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots win by 21 runs!

SIX! Late blows but not enough. Cottrell lands it on a length and around off, Walsh exercises his arms and smokes it into the night sky over mid-wicket. We have lost the ball. This last over is taking ages to finish.

Digs in a short ball on middle, Nurse pulls it down to deep square leg for a run.

Too full and around off, Hayden goes hard and gets it away off the inner half to backward square leg. A single is taken.

Wide! Another delivery, too wide outside off, Hayden allows it through.

Wide! Sheldon is struggling to get his line right in the final over. Another wide one way outside off. Walsh lets it be.

Swing and a miss! Short again, this time it's inside the guideline outside off, Hayden Walsh tries to pull but misses.

Wide! Cottrell tries to go short but once again gets his line wrong. Way wide outside off and Hayden leaves.

SIX! This one has been dismissed! A bit late in the day but they all count. Full in length, around off and angling in, Walsh clubs it down the ground and clears the jumping fielder at wide long on.

Sheldon Cottrell comes back to bowl the last over of the innings.

Wide! Short in length and way wide outside off, Walsh lets it be.