BARBADOS TRIDENTS kept alive their slim hopes of advancing to the play-offs of the Caribbean Premier League with a hard-fought victory by 16 runs against table leaders Trinbago Knight Riders at Kensington Oval on Saturday night.
Before a vocal, supportive crowd of more than 8 000, the Tridents admirably defended a hardly imposing total of 136 for nine by restricting the pre-match favourites to 120 in 18.2 overs.
It was the Tridents’ second successive victory and their fourth in nine matches but with Guyana Amazon Warriors winning handsomely against Jamaica Tallawahs on Friday night to complete their fifth win, the Tridents would have to register a big victory against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on Sunday to edge the Amazon Warriors on net run-rate for the last play-off spot.
The Tridents fought back gallantly to post a workable total after they were reduced to 62 for seven in the tenth over against opponents who had won eight of their nine previous matches.
After losing Dwayne Smith to the second ball of the innings, the hosts lost wickets at regular intervals before Wayne Parnell and Shamar Springer halted the slide with an eighth wicket partnership of 48.
Parnell, more known for his bowling, made an unbeaten 44 off 35 balls while Springer batted sensibly in scoring 21 off 22 balls that saved the Tridents from embarrassment.
Left-armer Parnell returned with the ball to grab two early wickets and the Tridents sustained the pressure by consistently picking up wickets.
The match was in the balance at 58 for four in the tenth over but Tridents seized the advantage by further strikes before the Knight Riders threatened briefly when Javon Searles smashed Parnell for two fours and a six in the 17th over that produced 19 runs.
With 21 needed from the final two overs, Tridents sealed the deal by grabbing two wickets.
Brendon McCullum was unable to return to the crease after retiring hurt on 26 when he was struck on the forearm by Parnell in the sixth over.
Summarised scores:
Barbados Tridents 136-9 in 20 overs (Wayne Parnell 44 n.o,, Shamar Springer 21, Nicolas Pooran 19, Kieron Pollard 17; Shadab Khan 2-13). Trinbago Knight Riders 120 in 18.2 overs (Javon Searles 29, Brendon McCullum 26 retired hurt, Dwayne Bravo 22; Wayne Parnell 3-31, Wahan Riaz 2-24, Kieron Pollard 2-26). Barbados Tridents won by 16 runs. (HG)
