TKR move to top with 7-wicket win over Kings
TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC) — Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) capped off their home leg with a seven-wicket victory over St Lucia Kings here Sunday night, to enter the final phase of the group stage on top of the Caribbean Premier League standings.
Tasked with overhauling 168 at the Brian Lara Stadium, opener Mark Deyal top-scored with 57 from 45 deliveries, Irishman Lorcan Tucker chipped in with 38 not out from 31 deliveries and Andre Russell blasted a 13-ball unbeaten 29.
New Zealander Martin Guptill (16) and in-form left-hander Nicholas Pooran (15) both departed cheaply to leave TKR on 45 for two at the end of the sixth over, but the hosts were never really in danger, Deyal posting 87 for the third wicket with Tucker to set up the win.
Colin Munro had earlier top-scored an unbeaten 72 from 51 deliveries as Kings tallied 167 for three off their 20 overs, after being sent in.
The New Zealander struck half-dozen fours and three sixes to hold the Kings innings together following the early demise of Johnson Charles who made a run-a-ball 13 before having his stumps castled by speedster Jayden Seales in the fourth over with 18 runs on the board.
Munro put on 76 for the second wicket with Roston Chase who made 32 from 31 balls with three fours and a six, before adding a further 58 in an unbroken fourth wicket stand with Zimbabwean Sikandar Raza who belted a 17-ball 34 not out with four fours and a six.
In reply, Guptill miscued off-spinner Chase to long on in the fourth over before fast bowler Alzarri Joseph (2-42) claimed the prized wicket of Pooran, squirting to Australian Peter Hatzoglou at cover point.
Deyal then took charge of the chase, stroking half-dozen fours and two sixes to end a spell of bad form and post his first 50 of the season, Tucker supporting with a 31-ball knock with three fours.
When Deyal fell to Joseph, Russell arrived to clobber two fours and three sixes, in a 37-run, unbroken fourth wicket stand with Tucker.
The win was TKR’s sixth in eight games, moving them to 13 points — two clear of unbeaten Guyana Amazon Warriors who host the final leg this week.
