Defending Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) champions Trinbago Knight Riders made it three wins from three in their season-opening home stint after cruising past St Lucia Zouks’ 167/5 with seven wickets and 13 balls to spare on Saturday.
Very different yet equally impressive half-centuries from the explosive Lendl Simmons and ice-cool Denesh Ramdin ensured a mid-range target never really posed much of a threat. Simmons set the tone with a six straight back over Thisara Perera’s head from just the second ball of the innings, with Sunil Narine adding another Hero Maximum as 14 came from the opening over.
With the boundaries coming so regularly, even the loss of Narine and Tion Webster in the space of nine balls – the latter caught at point from Fawad Ahmed’s first ball of the day – did nothing to staunch the flow. Simmons ended that Fawad over with another huge six over long-on and on to the roof before smoking back-to-back Hero Maximums in the champion leg-spinner’s next over. His half-century came up with his fourth four to go with four sixes in just 32 balls, by which time the Knight Riders’ overall target was already down to double-figures.
