Knight Riders power past Patriots in CPL thriller
BASSETERRE, St Kitts (CMC) — Colin Munro’s explosive century lit up Warner Park here Sunday afternoon as Trinbago Knight Riders held off a spirited chase from St Kitts & Nevis Patriots to secure a 12-run victory in a high-octane clash in the 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
The New Zealand dynamo smashed a breathtaking 120 off just 57 balls, striking at a blistering 210 — including 14 fours and six sixes — to propel the Knight Riders to a formidable 231-5.
Despite a valiant effort from the Patriots, who finished at 219-7, Munro’s heroics proved the difference in a match that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
After being sent in by Patriots Captain Jason Holder, the Knight Riders exploded from the start, with Munro and Alex Hales’ 47 putting on a dominant, 114-run opening stand.
Munro was relentless, dismantling both pace and spin with clean hitting down the ground, repeatedly finding the boundary with precision and power.
Though Hales fell in the ninth over, Munro continued his assault, eventually surpassing Nicholas Pooran’s 102 not out which he scored in 2023 to record the highest individual score for the Trinidad franchise.
His innings also made him only the second overseas player, after Faf du Plessis, to score two CPL hundreds.
The Kiwi said he has been hitting a lot of balls in the indoor nets, trying to get clean strikes for this tournament, and the extra work seemed to have paid off just nicely.
“It’s great when your effort contributes to a win. What can I say? This franchise has been amazing, and the family like atmosphere just makes it better,” said Munro.
Chasing 232, the Patriots started cautiously but still managed to get to 80 in the eight over, with Andre Fletcher getting 41 and Kyle Mayers 32. The dismissal of the two triggered a mini collapse as the Patriots were pegged back at 95 for three in the 10th over.
Rilee Rossouw with 38 and Jason Holder added a half-century partnership, with Holder, weighing in with a brisk 44, leading a late charge.
But the required rate proved too steep, and despite a flurry of boundaries in the death overs the Knight Riders’ bowlers held their nerve, restricting the Patriots to 219-7.
Spinner Usman Tariq was the standout with the ball, bagging four wickets for 33 runs.
