One of the light towers malfunctioning during the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024 eliminator led to a shortened affair at Providence Stadium, Guyana which led to Barbados Royals registering a nine-wicket win over Trinbago Knight Riders. Nicholas Poora’s unbeaten 91 went in vain as David Miller played a demolishing knock off 50 from just 70 balls to chase down the revised target of 60 with four balls to spare.
Pooran misses hundred
Earlier, Knight Riders skipper Kieron Pollard won the toss and opted to bat first. On the first ball Sunil Narine's catch was dropped. But Maheesh Theekshan did not let it bog him down and knocked over Narine off the third ball. In the fifth over, Pooran went berserk and hit Jason Holder for two sixes and a four. Jason Roy departed in the sixth over bowled by Naveen-ul-Haq. The opener scored 25 runs from 17 balls. Runs dried up in the middle overs. Skipper Pollard got bowled by Rammon Simmonds. He scored 17 runs from 19 balls.
Meanwhile, Pooran reached his fifty from 39 balls. He broke the shackles in the 17th over hitting Theekshana for a four and a six. In the next over, Pooran whacked Simmonds for two sixes. Andre Russell showed first signs of naked aggression hitting Obed McCoy for a massive six in the 20th over. However, after the first ball light tower malfunctioned and the game was stopped. Pooran remained not out for 60-ball 91 featuring six fours and five sixes. It took more than an hour to get the tower up and running. Knight Riders were 168/3 when the game was interrupted. Pooran missed his chance to score second consecutive century.
Miller’s killer knock leads Royals to Qualifier
After a long delay, Barbados Royals were given a 60-run target from five overs as per DLS method. In the run chase, Narine knocked over Quinton de Kock after conceding a boundary. In the same over, Miller hit him for a six. Chris Jordan erred and bowled a no ball. He conceded 13 runs from the second over. Interestingly, Narine and Jordan bowled one more over but could not escape Miller’s wrath. In the fifth over, Miller smashes Terrance Hinds for a couple of sixes to finish the run chase and reach his fifty.
Royals’ next challenge
Powell-led Royals will now go up against the loser of Qualifier 1 on October 4. At the same venue, Guyana Amazon Warriors will take on Saint Lucia Kings in the Qualifier 1.
