The Trinbago Knight Riders’ miserable start to this year’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League continued on Saturday night when heavy showers allowed the Jamaica Kingsmen to escape with a seven-run win via the Duckworth/Lewis/Stern (DLS) method.
The Knight Riders would have been disappointed that they only got up to 180 for six in their 20 overs at the Queen’s Park Oval after being given a blistering start by openers Sunil Narine and Colin Munro.
The contest was set up for an exciting finish with the Kingsmen 127 for three in the 15th over, before persistent rains brought a premature end to the match with the visitors seven runs ahead on the DLS.
It gave the Kingsmen their fourth win in eight matches, while handing the Knight Riders a fourth loss in six games.
The Kingsmen didn’t get off to the best of starts in their chase, losing opener Maaz Sadaqat cheaply with 18 runs on the board.
Kirk McKenzie and Keacy Carty did a good job during their 50-run partnership for the second wicket that lifted the visitors to 68 for one after eight overs.
And when Goolie struck again to dismiss McKenzie for 30 off 25 balls, Carty found a reliable partner in Saim Ayub, with the pair adding a further 52-runs to put the Kingsmen in control.
Carty was eventually bowled by spinner Usman Tariq for 42 off 33 balls as he tried to accelerate, with his dismissal bringing skipper Rovman Powell to the crease.
He only faced two balls though – which included a boundary off Narine – and it ended up being the last ball of the match as showers forced players off the field for a second instance, this time for good.
Ayub finished unbeaten on 24 off 18 balls, while Goolie was the Knight Riders’ best bowler with 2-30.
Earlier, the Knight Riders looked set to post a total over 200 when Narine and Munro were at the crease during a 101-run partnership inside nine overs.
After scoring 11 runs in the first two overs, Narine hit Keemo Paul for a four and a six in the next over.
They them thumped Ayub for a six and three fours in the sixth over that went for 21 runs, with Narine also launching into wrist spinner Vitel Lawes, hitting him for two sixes two overs later.
Narine brought up his second successive half century in 23 balls by belting Paul for two fours and six in the ninth over that helped carry the Knight Riders past the 100-run mark.
But Paul had the last laugh, as he had Narine spectacularly caught by Odean Smith at mid-off for 53 off 24 balls, which included six fours and three sixes.
His dismissal led to a mini collapse, with Player-of-the-Match Lawes largely responsible.
Lawes had Munro caught behind for 52 off 42 balls, claimed the wicket of the dangerous Kieron Pollard for a first ball duck and also dismissed Matthew Tromp without scoring, to see the Knight Riders slide to 120 for four after 14 overs.
Captain Nicholas Pooran bolstered the innings with a responsible unbeaten knock of 60 off 37 balls with five fours and three sixes, but it proved to be insufficient as the rain had the final say.
Lawes finished with 3-29 while Hunain Shah took 2-27. (CMC)