By Brandon Corlette
Trinbago Knight Riders trashed the Barbados Royals in their own backward in match 13 of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.
Played at the mecca of cricket in the Caribbean, TKR posted 194-5 in 20 overs, while Royals were rattled to 61 all out in 12.overs. TKR crushed the Royals homecoming by 133 runs to send an ominous warning to other teams.
Royals had the worst start, as Andre Russell removed Rahkeem Cornwall with the first ball of the chase. Kyle Mayers was also removed for a first ball duck, trapped by Russell upon review. Royals were 1-2, and Russell was steaming in.
Test player Alick Athanaze was rushed by a Russell short-ball and was caught at mid-on at 5-3 in 2.2 overs. Jason Holder had a homecoming as he struck two boundaries in his first three balls, counterattacking Russell’s short-ball ploy.
The spinners then came on, and Royals were reeling at 30-4 in the powerplay. Wickets fell at regular intervals as the Barbadian Royals displayed poor shot selection, while TKR maintained their disciplined bowling.
TKR spinners wreaked havoc on the Royals’ batting, with Afghanistan spinner Waqar Salamkheil leading the way while Akeal Hosein and Sunil Narine were at their impressive best. Royals were 45-8 in 9.2 overs, in trouble of creating history with the lowest total at CPL, which was 52. Four byes saved the Royals from that record, but they were rattled to 61 in 12.1 overs.
Russell ended with 3-12, while Narine (1-11), Hosein (2-16) and Salamkheil (4-14) completed the demolition job.
Earlier, Barbados Royals won the toss and opted to bowl first. TKR had a solid start, with openers Mark Deyal and Martin Guptill. After the powerplay, TKR posted 47-1, with Deyal being the first one dismissed, for 27. He was bowled by hometown hero Jason Holder, who had the fairly large crowd on their feet.
Nicholas Pooran stepped to the crease, but his stay was brief, as he made only six. He was caught and bowled by leg-spinner Qais Ahmad at 69-2 after 8.2 overs.
At the half-way stage, Guptill looked in control while Pollard was getting into his work, with TKR rolling on at 81-2. Guptill played arguably the shot of the night when he slammed Ahmad down the ground into the 3Ws Oval.
There was a passing shower at 19:51h, but only the batters left the field, while the Royals stood firm as play resumed. After a slow start for Guptill, he reached his half-century from 40 balls. TKR had breached 100 runs in 13.3 overs with the aim to breach 200.
The clinical Guptill and Pollard then took Ahmad to the cleaners, slamming him for 22 runs in the 15th over. Runs continued to flow as Guptill and Pollard displayed power. Pollard then found long-off as he was removed for 46 by left-arm spinner Roelof van der Merwe. The big wicket of Pollard ended the 108-run stand.
Andre Russell partnered Guptill at 177-3 in 18.1 overs, and he struck his first ball for four. The final over began with TKR on 183-3, and Gutill was standing tall on 89. He eventually reached his milestone and it took him 58 balls. The man from New Zealand, Guptill scored his first fifty in 40 balls, and it took him 18 balls to reach his other 50 runs, as he remained unbeaten on 100 from 58 balls. He struck nine sixes and one four to propel TKR to a solid total of 194-5 in 20 overs.
Jason Holder had 2-39 in four overs on a difficult day at the office for bowlers.
The 2023 CPL will continue today with Guyana Amazon Warriors Women taking on Barbados Royals Women in the first match of the Women’s CPL from 15:00h. The men’s CPL will continue with Barbados Royals playing Jamaica Tallawahs from 19:00h. Both matches will be played at Kensington Oval. Guyana Amazon Warriors men will play on Saturday September 2, at 10:00h against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.(Gtimes)