A brilliant bowling spell from Akeal Hosein gave the Trinbago Knight Riders their first win of their 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign with a victory over last year’s finalist, Saint Lucia Kings, by three wickets.

The Knight Riders won the toss and chose to field as Hosein took four wickets to restrict Saint Lucia Kings to 143/9, despite some big hitting from batter Roshon Primus towards the end of the innings.

Trinbago Knight Riders got off to a tough start themselves, losing two early wickets before a commanding innings from Tion Webster (58) helped guide them to victory with four balls to spare.

Saint Lucia Kings also got off to a troublesome start as they lost openers Johnson Charles and Leroy Lugg in the batting powerplay. It was the Australian batsman, Mark Deyal, however, who began to rebuild with some fluent batting, but the 13th over proved to be pivotal as Hosein took three wickets, including that of Deyal and captain Roston Chase. The Kings continued to lose wickets; yet, a late flurry of boundaries from Primus ultimately saw them reach 143/9.

Despite victory, Trinbago Knight Riders suffered major setbacks early in their chase, losing the wickets of Sunil Narine and Nicholas Pooran, as both batters were caught out trying to clear the boundary. Opener Webster led the recovery, however, scoring 58 runs from 45 balls with support being provided by partner Tim Seifert. Nevertheless, the Saint Lucia Kings fought back by taking the wicket of Webster, shortly followed by that of Andre Russell, an outstanding catch from Lugg sending him back to the pavilion.

However, it looked like Seifert and captain Kieron Pollard would take the Knight Riders to victory, but Alzarri Joseph dismissed both in the nineteenth over, before striking with his final ball to dismiss Seekkugge Prasanna to set up a nervy finish. But it was Anderson Phillip’s well struck six that took the Knight Riders across the line.