Port of Spain – Kyle Mayers hit a blistering 79 and the Barbados Royals made it six wins from six matches in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a convincing eight-wicket win over Trinbago Knight Riders on Tuesday in Trinidad.
All but nine of Mayers’ runs came in boundaries comprising 10 fours and five sixes from 36 balls, as the Royals confidently chased 133 to win with four overs remaining when the third leg of the tournament started at the Queen’s Park Oval.
Any chance of Knight Riders getting back into the contest in front of their raucous home crowd quickly evaporated when Mayers tore into their attack and set the foundation with a second wicket stand of 98 with Corbin Bosch.
When the left-handed Barbadian all-rounder was caught at extra cover off South African pacer Daryn Dapavillon, Royals needed 25 from 50 balls, and Bosch and compatriot Quinton de Kock gathered the remaining runs with minimum fuss.
Earlier, Afghanistan off-spinner Mujeeb-ur-Rahman and fellow tweaker Rahkeem Cornwall shared five wickets and exposed the fragility of the TKR batting before West Indies white-ball captain Nicholas Pooran hit 52 to anchor the home team to 132 before they were bowled out.
After being put in to bat, TKR stumbled to 37 for four in the seventh over, but Pooran hit two fours and two sixes from 43 balls to lead the salvage operation in a 70-run stand for the fifth wicket with fellow left-hander Sunil Narine.
Mujeeb was the most successful Royals bowler with 3-17 from his allotted four overs, and Cornwall, Jason Holder, and left-arm pacer Obed McCoy grabbed two wickets apiece to complete the demolition.
Summarised scores:
Royals 132 all out off 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 52, Sunil Narine 30; Mujeeb-ur-Rahman 3-17, Rahkeem Cornwall 2-27, Jason Holder 2-30, Obed McCoy 2-30).
Knight Riders 133 for two off 16 overs (Kyle Mayers 79, Corbin Bosch 33 not out; Daryn Dupavillon 2-30).
