Trinbago Knight Riders' wicketkeeper-batter Nicholas Pooran put an end to his fear of 90s with his second T20 ton. Knight Riders registered a comprehensive 74-run win over table-toppers Guyana Amazon Warriors in the last league stage match of Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024.
Pooran’s scintillating ton
Skipper Kieron Pollard won the toss and opted to bat first. Pooran had to walk out to bat early as Imran Tahir dismissed opener Shaqkere Parris for a three-ball duck. Pooran got off the mark with a six off a no ball. While Jason Roy struggled to rotate strike, Pooran dominated in powerplay overs. He reached his half-century in the sixth over from just 22 deliveries. Knight Riders were 75/1 after six overs. They crossed the 100-run mark in the ninth over. Pooran continued to hit big in the middle overs. In the 12th over, Roy hit his former teammate Moeen Ali for a couple of sixes.
Meanwhile, Pooran reached his second T20 century from 57 balls in the 14th over. Shamar Joseph got the breakthrough with Roy's wicket. The opener scored 34 runs from 26 balls. Andre Russell could not do much damage and was dismissed for a single-digit score by Dwaine Pretorius. Joseph in his third over struck off consecutive deliveries. He dismissed Poorana and Tim David. Pooran's 59-ball 101 was laced with nine fours and eight sixes. In the slog overs, Pollard and Keacy Carty went berserk. Carty hit Romario Shepherd for a six and two fours in the last over to take Knight Riders' score to 211/5. Carty remained unbeaten for 13-ball 27 whereas Pollard scored 19 runs from 13 balls.
Warriors suffer collapse
Warriors lost Kevlon Anderson early to Nathan Edwards. But Warriors got off to a solid start with Shai Hope and Rahmanullah Gurbaz firing from both ends. In the sixth over, Hope smashed Russell for two sixes and three fours. Warriors were 63/1 after powerplay overs. In the seventh over, left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein dismissed Hope lbw. He scored 28 runs from 19 balls. Waqar Salamkheil struck twice in ninth over to dismiss Gurbaz and Shimron Hetmyer. Gurbaz scored 36 runs from 22 balls whereas Hetmyer scored nine runs.
In the next over, Terrance Hinds got the wickets of Keemo Paul and Shepherd as Warriors lost six wickets for 76 runs at halfway stage. The collapse continued. Salamkheil got the btter of Pretorius whereas Hinds ended Ali's short stay at the crease. Gudakesh Motie and Tahir tried to save their side from getting bowled out. In the penultimate over, Edwards got wickets of Tahir and Joseph to wrap up the innings. Tahir contributed with a run-a-ball 20 whereas Motie remained unbeaten for 26. Warriors were bowled out for 137 as they lost the match by 74 runs.
Playoff clashes in CPL 2024
Knight Riders will face Barbados Royals on October 1 in the Eliminator. On October 2, Warriors will take on Saint Lucia Kings.
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