Caribbean Premier League: AB de Villiers Bats Tridents to Win vs Patriots
AB de Villiers slammed his best knock of Caribbean Premier League 2016 so far to help Barbados Tridents beat St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots
Highlights
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AB de Villiers scored a match-winning 82 for Barbados Tridents
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De Villiers has scored two half-centuries in CPL 2016
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Faf du Plessis scored 42 in vain for Patriots
A brilliant innings from AB de Villiers helped the Barbados Tridents to a 25-run victory in their Caribbean Premier League match against the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots in Bridgetown on Wednesday. De Villiers' 82 was his second half century in his last two innings and his highest score this season.
De Villiers rescued Tridents from a precarious 29 for three wickets. The South African proved why he is considered the best batsman across formats in world cricket as he steadied the Tridents ship. De Villiers was well supported by Nicolas Pooran and Kieron Pollard as the Tridents managed 180-6 in their 20 overs.
De Villiers began slowly but accelerated brilliantly throughout his innings. He finished with 82 from 54 balls, the highlight being the giant six over the roof of the grandstand.
The South African captain was dropped three times during his innings, the last of which involved a sickening collision between JJ Smuts and Kieran Powell.
It was a bone-crushing impact and it was upsetting to see Powell leaving the ground in an ambulance. Powell suffered a concussion and he is being closely observed by the medical staff, and was unable to bat.
When the chase got under way the Patriots got off to a decent start but disciplined bowling from the Tridents prevented them reaching their target. Faf du Plessis attempted to hold things but his quickfire 42 was not enough to secure victory for Patriots.
The Patriots are not mathematically eliminated from the CPL, but their chances of making the knockout stages rest on them winning their remaining four matches and hoping for other results to go their way.