CPL 2024 Match 28 Review: Trinbago Knight Riders vs. Barbados Royals

The 28th match of the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) emerge victorious over the Barbados Royals by 30 runs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. Both teams had already secured qualification for the playoffs, with TKR sitting in third place and the Royals in fourth prior to the game. However, the win strengthened TKR’s position in the standings while the Royals missed an opportunity to climb higher.

Toss and Team Decisions

Barbados Royals won the toss and elected to field first, a decision that seemed reasonable given their solid bowling attack and the venue’s tendencies. However, the Knight Riders’ power hitters, especially in the middle and late order, put on an impressive display to post a challenging total.

Trinbago Knight Riders’ Innings: 175/7 in 20 Overs

TKR’s innings began with a major setback as opener Jason Roy was dismissed for a duck by Maheesh Theekshana in just the third ball of the match. The early departure of Roy put the Knight Riders on the back foot, but Nicholas Pooran’s quickfire 27 off 15 balls (4 fours, 1 six) provided a temporary boost. Despite this, TKR found themselves struggling at 35/3 within the first five overs.

The partnership between Keacy Carty (32 off 34 balls) and skipper Kieron Pollard (42 off 27 balls) anchored the innings, with Pollard smashing four sixes and maintaining a strike rate of 155.55. However, it was Andre Russell’s explosive cameo that really propelled the innings forward. Russell hammered 31 off just 12 balls, including four sixes, providing much-needed momentum towards the death overs. Chris Jordan (13* off 11) and Terrance Hinds (9* off 4) added useful contributions to take TKR to a competitive total of 175/7.

The pick of the bowlers for Barbados was Maheesh Theekshana, who claimed 3 wickets for 35 runs, including key scalps of Jason Roy, Pollard, and Russell. Naveen-ul-Haq also delivered with 3 wickets, finishing with 3/35 in his four overs, while Jason Holder chipped in with 1/31.

Barbados Royals’ Chase: 145/9 in 20 Overs

The Royals’ chase got off to a rocky start, losing Kadeem Alleyne (2) in the first over and Quinton de Kock (8) soon after. Akeal Hosein was instrumental in both dismissals, and his tight bowling continued to strangle the Royals throughout the innings. Kevin Wickham (23 off 23) and Alick Athanaze (44 off 33) tried to rebuild, but wickets fell at regular intervals.

Athanaze’s knock, which included 1 four and 4 sixes, provided a glimmer of hope, but with the required run rate climbing, the middle-order batsmen had to take more risks. David Miller’s brisk 30 off 15 balls, laced with 2 fours and 3 sixes, kept the Royals in contention, but the fall of Miller in the 16th over dealt a major blow to their chase.

The TKR bowlers tightened the noose in the death overs. Chris Jordan’s 3/33 and Terrance Hinds’ 2/22 dismantled the lower order, as the Royals struggled to find partnerships in the latter stages. Akeal Hosein was the standout performer with figures of 4-0-15-3, earning him the Player of the Match award. His early strikes and economical spell were crucial in derailing the Royals’ chase.

Key Moments and Turning Points

• Early Breakthroughs by Hosein: Akeal Hosein’s double strike in the powerplay, removing de Kock and Alleyne, set the tone for TKR’s dominance in the field.
• Pollard and Russell’s Power Hitting: The experienced duo of Pollard and Russell provided the innings with much-needed acceleration at critical moments. Their ability to clear the boundaries under pressure was a defining factor in setting a challenging total.
• Middle-Order Collapse of the Royals: Despite some resistance from Athanaze and Miller, the Barbados Royals’ middle and lower order failed to sustain the chase. The constant fall of wickets hampered their momentum, and once Miller departed, the game was effectively sealed.

The Golden Run of Akeal Hosein Continues

The Trinbago Knight Riders’ clinical performance with both bat and ball earned them a crucial victory, solidifying their playoff position. Barbados Royals, despite having already qualified for the playoffs, will need to address their middle-order batting issues and regain form in the upcoming matches.

With Akeal Hosein leading from the front and contributions from the TKR’s big hitters, the Knight Riders will enter the playoffs brimming with confidence. The Royals, on the other hand, have some thinking to do as they look to rebound in the knockout stages.

Player of the Match

Akeal Hosein (TKR) – 4-0-15-3, key wickets of de Kock, Alleyne, and Wickham, pivotal in TKR’s 30-run win.

Points Update

• Trinbago Knight Riders: 2 points, further strengthening their third position.
• Barbados Royals: 0 points, remain in fourth place heading into the playoffs.