Jason Holder performed another match-winning feat when he bowled St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to a crucial victory over Saint Lucia Kings in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Wednesday night. The giant seam bowler who is captain led from the front with three wickets for just 20 runs from his four overs.
This limited the home team to 155 for eight at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. He received great support from new ball partner Saurabh Netravalkar who took three for 32 from his four overs.
Holder again reaffirmed his status as one of the best performers in regional cricket and is one of just five bowlers in CPL history with over 100 wickets – fourth on the all-time list of wicket-takers with 114.
The Patriots then went about their chase steadily and made 156 for five off 17.4 overs to win by five wickets with 14 balls to spare. The win gave the Patriots their first win of the tournament and handed the home side their first defeat. Kyle Mayers gave the innings early impetus when he smashed 32 off 16 balls with three fours and three sixes.
The powerful left-hander demonstrated his immense strength and took 27 runs off one over from seamer Matthew Forde. This left the required run rate at just over six runs per over. Andre Fletcher, a former Saint Lucia player, calmly saw the team home with 48 not out off 41 balls and earned the Man-of-the-Match award.
In the process the T20 World Cup winner reached the milestone of 9,000 runs in his T20 professional career.
Earlier in the night, teenager Jewel Andrew topscored with 58 off 42 balls for the Kings. This was his second innings for his new team he made the switch from the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons. He added 82 in eight overs with Kamil Pooran, who was brilliant in his second innings at this level.
The opener made 54 off 30 balls with seven boundaries and three sixes, before he was run out by a superb pin-point accurate throw from Wanindu Hasaranga on the point boundary.
The tournament action continues Thursday night with home team Jamaica Kingsmen hosting Guyana Amazon Warriors at Sabina Park in Kingston. The Kingsmen have lost both matches so far and will be desperate to get off the mark in their first season. First ball is 7pm local time (8pm Barbados). (PS)