FROM A POSITION OF STRENGTH, Barbados Tridents were let down by bowling at the death, and batting, falling to the Trinbago Knight Riders by 11 runs early this morning at Queen’s Park Oval.
Tridents made a great start in their opening Hero Caribbean Premier League T20 match, reducing Knight Riders to 20 for four and a mere 54 off the first ten overs.
But a 150-run fifth wicket partnership by Hashim Amla (81) and captain Dwayne Bravo (66 not out), the only players in double figures, took the total to a challenging 170 for five.
The pair laid the foundation for victory after Akeal Hosein had taken two wickets and Ravi Rampaul two in the same over to turn the match in favour of the Tridents.
Tridents fell short, scoring 159 for eight off their 20, never building any partnerships to challenge the score.
Steven Taylor scored a run-a-ball 37 and a cameo 33 off 12 balls by Nicholas Pooran were the few bright sparks.
Neither Captain Kieron Pollard (0) nor AB deVilliers (12) fired with the bat.
Tridents will play St Kitts Nevis Patriots on Tuesday at Warner Park.
Summarised scores:
Trinbago Knight Riders 170-5 in 20 overs (Hashim Amla 81, Dwayne Bravo 66 n.o., Akeal Hosein 2-18, Ravi Rampaul 2-33). Barbados Tridents 159-8 in 20 overs (Steven Taylor 37, Nicholas Pooran 33, Shoaib Malik 28, Wayne Parnell 16 not out, AB de Villiers 12, Kyle Hope 11; Sunil Narine 2-21, Kevon Cooper 2-42). Knight Riders win by 11 runs.