Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots have registered their first win of the 2023 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League campaign with a 4 wicket win over Saint Lucia Kings at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.
Saint Lucia Kings were sent into bat and made 149-7 in 20 overs. Despite it being a middling total, the Patriots were made to fight hard for victory, eventually finishing on 150-6 thanks to Andre Fletcher’s heroic 93 not out.
Fresh from their woeful bowling performance against the Barbados Royals last Sunday, the Patriots decided to make two changes: captain Evin Lewis and 22 year old spinner Ashmead Nedd were brought back into the fold in place of Yannic Cariah and Johann Layne.
The inclusion of Nedd was an inspired one as he would dismiss the dangerous Colin Munro in his second over for just 10 runs to give the Patriots an early foothold in the game. Two overs later, an inspired piece of fielding from Jyd Goolie to run out Sean Williams (1) just balls before Nedd would trap Roston Chase in front for nought to leave the Kings wobbling on 22-3 after five overs. A 73 run partnership between Johnson Charles (42) and Shadrack Descarte (43) rebuilt the innings before a cameo from skipper Sikander Raza (22) brought them up to 149-7.
Winless throughout the competition, it looked like it was falling apart for the Patriots again when they were 49-3 in 6.5 overs with Lewis (3), Will Smead (2) and Goolie (5) back inside the pavilion. Up against the spin heavy attack of the Kings, Fletcher looked determined to get the job done alone bringing up his half century in 38 balls with four boundaries and two sixes.
Zimbabwean Raza brought himself back in the twelfth over looking to break the 35 partnership between Fletcher and Sherfane Rutherford and succeeded by luring the latter to sky a catch to deep midwicket.
With just ten runs needed from twelve balls, 90 mph fast bowler Alzarri Joseph delivered a brilliant penultimate over conceding just one run to set up a tense finish. At this point the “Spiceman” was unable to run but Fletcher smashed the penultimate ball for six over midwicket anyway to end the contest and break the Patriots duck.
Saint Lucia Kings will be looking to bounce back tomorrow evening when they face Trinbago Knight Riders at the same venue. Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots will wrap up their tournament with a match vs the defending champions Jamaica Tallawahs next Saturday.
Summarised Scores
Saint Lucia Kings 149-7 (Shadrack Descarte 43, Johnson Charles 42; Ashmead Nedd 2-14, Benny Howell 2-31). Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots 150-6 (Andre Fletcher 93; Khary Pierre 2-18, Roston Chase 2-25). Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots won 4 wickets.
