CPL 2024 Match 28 Review: Knight Riders Overtake Royals

It was another frustrating night for the Barbados Royals, who lost to fellow title contenders Trinbago Knight Riders for the fourth time in a row as the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) approaches its last week of play. 

After a convincing 30-run victory, the Knight Riders move up to third place in the standings with 12 points, with one game remaining against the Royals. Despite starting the competition as the team to beat, the Royals end up in fourth place, securing the final qualifying position. 

Knight Rider's comfortable win in CPL 2024:

At the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad, Royals captain Rovman Powell won the toss and chose to field first. The Royals were in a good position after Theekshana bowled Jason Roy for a duck and Jason Holder caught Shaqkere Parris for just five after Quinton de Kock caught him behind. After hitting 27 off of 15 balls, Nicholas Pooran gave de Kock another catch off of Naveen-ul-Haq, leaving the Knight Riders struggling at 35/3 off of four overs. 

They were saved by the TKR engine room, which scored 175/7 because of cool heads and excellent hitting from Kieron Pollard (42 off 27), Andre Russell (31 off 12), and Keacy Carty (32 off 34), who held the innings together and lifted the home team to a respectable total. 

The Royals found that thirty runs was too many. The darting spinner Akeal Hosein claimed three wickets in as many overs, including Dangerman de Kock, to take the sting out of the Royals' batting card. Hosein concluded with a score of 3/15 from his four overs, earning him the title of Player of the Match. 

David Miller attempted in vain to get the Royals within striking distance with a few late-order boundary hits, but his thirty off fifteen balls was insufficient to force extra innings. With a solid 44 off 33 balls, Alick Athanze gave the Royals hope, but after he was removed by bowler Chris Jordan and catcher Jason Roy, the target was out of reach as wickets fell and the pressure on the scoreboard told. Captain Powell fell for 18 and Jason Holder for just 4. 

Watch this space for more CPL 2024 news.