GROS ISLET, Saint Lucia (CMC) — A spectacular opening partnership between Tim Seifert and Johnson Charles powered the Saint Lucia Kings to a dominant seven-wicket victory over the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots here on Thursday and propelled them to the top of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League.

After being sent in to bat at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, the Patriots posted 177 for three in their 20 overs, thanks mainly to Mohammad Rizwan’s unbeaten half-century.

However, Seifert smashed 68 off 45 balls and Charles bludgeoned 47 from just 17 deliveries, setting the perfect launch pad for the Kings who then coasted to 180 for three in 17 overs.

Charles was savage early on, hitting Kyle Mayers for a six and two fours in the third over that went for 18 runs.

The duo was especially brutal on leg spinner Navin Bidaisee, clobbering him for two sixes and two fours in the sixth over that leaked 21 runs as the Kings motored to 64 without loss after five overs.

Left-arm spinner Waqar Salamkheil was struck for two consecutive sixes by Charles, but got the breakthrough by having him caught to make the score 85 for one in the seventh over.

In all, Charles struck five fours and four sixes in his destructive knock.

Seifert found a reliable partner in new batter Ackeem Auguste, with the pair adding 60 runs in six overs to put their side in total control.

Along the way Seifert brought up his half-century off 35 balls by reverse sweeping Salamkheil for four.

By the time pacer Naseem Shah dismissed Auguste for 29 off 20 balls to leave the score 145 for two in the 13th over, the Kings were well on their way to victory.

Seifert eventually lost his wicket after smashing six fours and four sixes, but Roston Chase (15 not out) and Tim David (16 not out) took their side to victory with 18 balls to spare.

The win carried them to the top of the table on eight points from their six games with a 3-1 record.

Earlier, the Patriots produced a solid batting performance, if not spectacular, on their way to posting a competitive total.

Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher put on 47 runs inside six overs for the first wicket, before Chase had Lewis caught for a run-a-ball 18.

Player of the Match, Tabraiz Shamsi, who bowled impressively to snag 2-17 from his four overs, then accounted for Fletcher’s wicket after he scored 37 from 23 balls, to leave the Patriots 69 for two.

Rizwan and Kyle Mayers then added 71 runs for the third wicket but were unable to fully break free from the shackles of the Kings’ bowlers.

In the end, Rizwan finished on 60 not out off 41 balls, inclusive of four sixes and three fours, and the Patriots ended with a flourish by collecting 37 runs off the last three overs.

Jason Holder of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots drives during the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League match versus St Lucia Kings.