A second consecutive superb bowling performance from the St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots saw them register their third win of the 2015 Hero Caribbean Premier League season and consolidate their position at third in the league table, while the Barbados Tridents have now lost two in a row.
Tabraiz Shamsi followed his 4-23 against Jamaica Tallawahs with an even more impressive 4-10 yesterday as the Patriots restricted the Tridents to just 135-8 from their 20 overs, a target that the Patriots chased in 17.1 overs for the loss of only two wickets with Marlon Samuels scoring 71 not out off 54 balls.
Chinaman bowler Shamsi dismissed Dwayne Smith, Shai Hope, Jason Holder and Jonathan Carter in a superb four over spell that tore the heart from the Tridents’ innings. His most recent eight overs in the CPL have reaped 8-33 – it is safe to say a star has been born.
Shamsi was assisted well by Shahid Afridi who also followed his strong performance against the Tallawahs of 2-10 with 3-34.
The Tridents have Kieron Pollard to thank that they posted as many as they did. Pollard’s 33-ball 49, which helped the table-toppers blitz 47 from their last 18 balls was the only score of more than 20 in the innings.
The Patriots lost Evin Lewis for just 10 in the third over of their innings but never once looked as if they would be troubled chasing what was certainly a below-par total. Given the Patriots success with their spin bowlers it was surprising that Robin Peterson was not introduced into the attack until the fifteenth over.
Martin Guptill and Samuels played sensible innings lined with moments of panache to carry the Patriots to a deeply impressive eight wicket victory in front of a passionate home crowd.
As the pitches continue to wear the Patriots will be hopeful that spin-duo Shamsi and Afridi can continue to set up similar victories. The Patriots are back in action tomorrow against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Tridents play next on Saturday in the heavy-weight clash against the Tallawahs. (CPLT20website)
