By Brandon Corlette in St Lucia

A complete team effort from St Lucia Kings helped them to their first win of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in a match played at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

Sean Williams and Faf du Plessis played cameos to lead Kings to 201-6 in 20 overs, while Matthew Forde broke the back of the Royals’ chase. Royals were restricted to 147 all out in 20 overs, to enable the Kings to clinch victory by 54 runs.

The drizzles came before the chase began, and Royals had a poor start, with Rahkeem Cornwall being too slow to his crease and getting run out for a golden duck. Justin Greaves was clean bowled for a duck by Matthew Forde, and Royals were 4-2 in the first over.

Forde continued to pitch the ball up while extracting movement, and was rewarded with the wicket of Kevin Wickham (10) in his second over.

When Rovman Powell came to the crease, Royals on 21-3 after 2.3 overs. Forde was not finished yet, as he outfoxed Powell, who was caught at long-on for a duck.
At 21-4, Mayers and Holder were on a major rebuild of the innings. Mayers (16) played some delightful shots, but was caught at the edge of third-man trying to uppercut. Royals were now a shipwreck at the powerplay, being 49-5.

Holder (10) was bowled all ends up by Scottish pacer Chris Sole as the Royals ship sank further. The rain came at 89-8 after 12.5 overs.

Nyeem Young (48) showed some resistance, but it was not sufficient. Forde ended with 3-12 from three overs.

Earlier, St Lucia King won the toss and elected to bat first. The Kings made two tactical changes in bringing in Sadrack Descarte and Khary Pierre while Kimani Melius and Peter Hatzogulu missed out. Openers Faf du Plessis and Johnson Charles had a decent start, but Charles was again lucky after being dropped.

Faf was fluent on the other end, taking apart Joshua Bishop, hitting him for three fours and one six in as many balls. Charles and Faf went past 50 runs in the fifth over, but Jason Holder picked up two wickets in his first over. Charles was dismissed first for 30 from 19 balls when he chopped on, while Descarte made four before finding deep mid-wicket.

At the powerplay, St Lucia were 65-2. Zimbabwe skipper and Faf added 44 runs for the third wicket, but either batsman failed to score fifty. Faf was first to be dismissed, for a 32-ball 46 after hitting two sixes and four fours. Williams then ran past a delivery and was stumped for 47 from 30 balls. His attractive innings was decorated with three fours and two sixes. Both Faf and Williams were dismissed by Afghan leggie Qais Ahmad.

At 154-4, Kings were looking for a big finish, but Sikandar Raza was removed by the experienced Holder for 23. At 159-5, the destructive duo from the first game joined forces. Chase was given a let-off by Justin Greaves on 10, while Primus was dropped by Bishop.

The Barbadian Chase played one shot too many, and had his stumps destroyed for 14 by Holder, who ended his day at the office on 4-38 from his four overs on an expensive night for Royals bowlers. This was Holder’s second-best CPL figures, after his 4-27.

Kings racked up 201-6 in their allotted 20 overs, and Primus remained unbeaten on 21.

The 2023 CPL will continue on Saturday, August 19, with two matches. Trinbago Knight Riders will play St Kitts and Nevis Patriots from 10:00h, and Guyana Amazon Warriors will play St Lucia Kings from 19:00h Eastern Caribbean Time. (GTimes)