CPL 2024 Match 17 Review: Kings on steady road after defeating Falcons

St Lucia Kings kept their 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign on track with a convincing 26-run victory over Antigua & Barbuda Falcons at home in Gros Islet. The Falcons suffered their sixth loss in eight games this year. 

In St Lucia, the Falcons won the toss and elected to put the Kings into bat first, but the host team's top order got off to a confident start with the bat. At the end of the fifth over, captain Faf du Plessis was sent out by Chris Green for 14, and Ackeem Auguste matched him with a brilliant 35 from 28 deliveries. Johnson Charles struck five boundaries for his 25. 

CPL 2024 Match 17 epic moments:

Green was the best bowler for the Falcons; when the Saint Lucia Kings attempted to seize control and establish a substantial target, the Australian took four top-order wickets with his shrewd off breaks. In the end, David Wiese hit four sixes to help the Kings reach 152/9 from 20 overs. 

At the conclusion of the PowerPlay, the Falcon's top order was 28/5 and appeared to be headed for a crushing loss. Shamar Springer and skipper Chris Green subsequently rebuilt the innings by moving the ball into the gaps, however the Kings were never really under any pressure to defend their total because there were no boundaries. 

As the harder yards came to an end and it was time to open the shoulders and mount a late charge, Green was run out, and the match was lost forever when Seifert caught him off Noor Ahmad for 48 from 37 deliveries. After Kofi James, Sam Billings, and Jahmar Hamilton took three early wickets, Khary Pierre was declared the Player of the Match. The Falcons were unable to recover from this top-order gut blow. 

The Falcons drop to second position in the standings and have a lot of work ahead of them as the competition nears its conclusion, while the Kings rise to second place in the rankings with a game remaining with the Barbados Royals ahead of them on Net Run Rate. Watch this space for more CPL 2024 news.