CPL 2018: Brathwaite powers Patriots to big win over Riders

Aug.12 (CRICKETNMORE) - Carlos Brathwaite brought back memories of his 2016 ICC World Twenty20 final heroics with a six-laden cameo that helped fire St Kitts & Nevis Patriots to a commanding 42-run victory over defending Caribbean Premier League (CPL) champions Trinbago Knight

He fell soon after in desperate search of another boundary, while Darren also holed out having never truly got going in a stop-start innings of 41 from 38.

Brathwaite picked up a second wicket when Ali Khan picked out Anton Devcich right on the boundary edge, and some late hitting from Kevon Cooper (42* off 22) did nothing more than restore a modicum of respectability for the Knight Riders.

Heavy rain in Trinidad during the day had left the outfield saturated and made life difficult for bowlers and fielders throughout the evening, with frequent replacement balls needed due to them either being sent over the stands or becoming too slippery for the bowlers to control.

Ali Khan, one of the breakout stars from the first week of action, made another stunning start with two wickets in the first four balls of the Patriots’ innings. First the dangerous Evin Lewis miscued a pull shot to midwicket before Dwayne Bravo produced a moment of magic at slip, diving full-length to his left to pluck the ball out of the air one-handed and send Tom Cooper packing for a single.

Chris Gayle was circumspect as he and Devon Thomas set about rebuilding from that double setback, but was then dismissed just as he threatened to cut loose.

Having hit Dwayne Bravo for successive sixes, Gayle fell to Kevon Cooper in the very next over as he sliced an attempted leg-side heave to Ali Khan at long-on. After dropping Russell to such cost 24 hours earlier, the American this time made no mistake.

Thomas, meanwhile, was batting beautifully and reached a classy 28-ball half-century – his first in T20 cricket – with successive fours off Dwayne Bravo.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, though, with Anton Devcich, Thomas himself and Mahmudullah all departing. But that brought Ben Cutting and Brathwaite together for an explosive conclusion to the innings. In all, 56 came from the last three overs of the innings with Brathwaite the chief destroyer until he too fell to the persevering Ali Khan, whose 3/23 did not deserve to come in a losing cause.

Brief Scores

St Kitts & Nevis Patriots - 203/7 (Thomas 58, Brathwaite 41, Gayle 35, Ali Khan 3/23, Narine 2/24) 

Trinbago Knight Riders - 161/8 (DM Bravo 41, Munro 35, K Cooper 42*, Brathwaite 2/19, Louis 2/42, Cutting 2/43) by 42 runs

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CPL Media Release