CAPTAIN Rovman Powell credited Saim Ayub and a disciplined bowling plan as Jamaica Kingsmen held their nerve to beat St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by 11 runs in their Caribbean Premier League (CPL) match at Warner Park, Basseterre, on Thursday.

The Pakistani hit 102 runs off 58 balls to rescue the Kingsmen from 4-63 from nine overs to post a total of 182 for 7 from 20 overs, then returned to take one for 20 runs as the Patriots were restricted to 171 for 6 from 20 overs.

The Kingsmen rebuilt through a 72-run, fifth-wicket stand, off 42 balls between Ayub and Powell, to steady the innings. Powell made 21 before falling to Wanindu Hasaranga. Ayub then added 29 with Keemo Paul for the sixth wicket, and 15 with Odean Smith for the seventh as Jamaica pushed to their total. Ayub hit six fours and eight sixes in his knock. Paul finished it with 25 not out off 13.

Only Hasaranga kept it tight for the Patriots with 2-18. Naseem Shah and Obed McCoy took two wickets each but went expensive.

Saim Ayub (left) of Jamaica Kingsmen hits a four as Andre Fletcher of Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots reacts during the men’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League Twenty20 cricket match at Warner Park in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis, on August 27, 2026.Photos: CPL T20

“One of our overseas players stood up and won a game for us,” Powell said in a televised interview.

“You know, it’s good to see Saim get 100. Previously he has been a good performer in the CPL so it’s good to see that he came with us and is continuing that form,” he added.

With the ball, Powell said the plan was simple.

POWELL… it’s good to see that he came with us and is continuing that form

“I think that’s the benefit of watching them bowl on the wicket. We know it’s a good wicket, we know there’s a lot of runs on the wicket, but having said that, we also feel as a bowling group [that] if you have a plan, you can execute.

“We came with a clear plan at the halfway mark… we know that if we can bowl 24 yorkers, whenever we’re under pressure as a team we can do that — and then Hunain [Shah] led us beautifully in the bowling,” Powell explained.

Shah led the way for the Kingsmen with 2-23 from four overs, removing Mikyle Louis (9) and Patriots Captain Jason Holder (34). Jediah Blades also took 2-50 while Ayub broke the back of the chase by having Andre Fletcher caught and bowled for 55.

Paul got Johnson Charles (14) early to finish 1-31, and Dasun Shanaka was left on 35 not out as the Patriots fell short.

Keemo Paul of Jamaica Kingsmen celebrates the dismissal of Johnson Charles of Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots during the men’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League cricket match at Warner Park.

Hunain Shah of Jamaica Kingsmen celebrates the dismissal of Jason Holder of Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots during the men’s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League cricket match on August 27, 2026.

Powell, however, slammed the schedule, with the Kingsmen due to depart St Kitts on Friday to face Trinbago Knight Riders in Port of Spain on Saturday.

“Yeah, we fly out [Friday] and then and then we play the very next day,” he said.

“You know, it’s a tough schedule, and sometimes it’s a schedule that we as players say, ‘That don’t make no sense.’ You know, teams are in Trinidad already and they are not playing the next game, but we have to fly and play… players can get injured, those kind of things,” Powell stated.