Caribbean Premier League: Patriots Stun Trinbago Knight Riders

The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots claimed just their second win of the 2016 Caribbean Premier League (CPL), beating Trinbago Knight Riders by 34 runs at the Central Broward Stadium in Lauderhill, Florida.

A season best innings from Evin Lewis allowed the Patriots to reach 180 for on an excellent batting surface. It proved too much for the Knight Riders to chase as they stumbled in the face of some excellent Patriots bowling.

The Patriots got off to an excellent start in the PowerPlay, making 65 runs and losing only one wicket when J. Smuts was caught in the deep off the bowling of Sunil Narine.

The opening stand was completely dominated by Smuts' opening partner Evin Lewis, who made 46 runs inside the first six overs.

Lewis made 79 from 40 balls, his best score of CPL 2016.

While Lewis was doing well, wickets kept falling at the other end. Lendl Simmons holed out off Narine and Faf du Plessis was completely undone by an outstanding Dwayne Bravo slower ball as his struggles with the bat this season continued.

Jonathan Carter and Shamarh Brooks put together 58 runs off 39 balls to give the Patriots a much-needed partnership, allowing them to set a target of 181.

McCullum Woes Continue

The Knight Riders got off to the worst possible start when Brendon McCullum miscued a shot to du Plessis for just one run. Just like du Plessis, McCullum has struggled for runs in the 2016 CPL.

With McCullum gone Hashim Amla took on the responsibility of securing the win that would see his team into the knockout stages.

Amla has flown back and forth to South Africa in the last week but he showed few ill-effects from his travels as he cruised to 33. His wicket came via a run out when a Lewis direct hit found him short of his ground.

Colin Munro kept the Knight Riders in the chase with 46 (28 balls) eventually falling lbw to Krishmar Santokie. Munro's wicket was the beginning of the end for TKR, although the New Zealander was unlucky to be dismissed by a ball that struck him outside the line of the off stump.

In the next over, Samuel Badree effectively ended the chase with two wickets in two balls. First, Umar Akmal was caught at long off by du Plessis and then Denesh Ramdin was bowled first ball.

Some late order hitting from Narine kept the Knight Riders interested but they had too much to do with too few wickets left as the Patriots claimed a consolation victory, running out winners by 34 runs.

This loss is not the end for the Knight Riders, their destiny is still in their own hands. They will face the same opponents on Sunday and a win will be enough for the defending champions to claim a knockout-stage spot.

If the Barbados Tridents fail to beat the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday the Knight Riders will make the knockout stages regardless of the result in their last group game.