By Vidia Ramphal
The 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League roared into its penultimate week with drama everywhere. Saint Lucia Kings booked their ticket with a spin-inspired dismantling of Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana Amazon Warriors lived and died by tight finishes, and Barbados Royals finally got a “W.” Every game mattered, and every point was priceless.
Match 20 — September 3, 2025 — Trinbago Knight Riders vs. Saint Lucia Kings
Saint Lucia Kings stormed into the CPL playoffs with a crushing seven-wicket win over Trinbago Knight Riders in Tarouba. Tabraiz Shamsi’s brilliant 3/12 dismantled TKR’s middle order, bowling them out for 109. Tim Seifert, Ackeem Auguste, and Roston Chase powered the chase, sealed by Tim David’s six for a dominant victory.
Match 21 — September 4, 2025 — Barbados Royals vs. Guyana Amazon Warriors
Shai Hope’s blazing 62 not out guided Guyana Amazon Warriors to a tense four-wicket victory over Barbados Royals. Chasing 166, the Warriors got home with two balls to spare. Rovman Powell’s unbeaten 50 had lifted the Royals, who remained winless after seven matches.
Match 22 — September 5, 2025 — Barbados Royals vs. Antigua & Barbuda Falcons
The Falcons clinched a thrilling last-ball win over the winless Royals. USA’s Andries Gous struck an unbeaten 85, supported by Kevin Wickham, after Brandon King’s dazzling 98 not out. The Royals’ seven dropped catches and Salman Irshad’s superb 2/13 proved decisive in the four-wicket victory.
Match 23 — September 6, 2025 — Guyana Amazon Warriors vs. Trinbago Knight Riders
Guyana Amazon Warriors edged Trinbago Knight Riders by three wickets with one ball left in Providence. Kieron Pollard’s 54 off 18 powered TKR to 167/5, but Shai Hope (53) and Shimron Hetmyer (49) set up the chase. Dwaine Pretorius’ late fireworks sealed the thrilling victory for the Warriors.
Match 24 — September 7, 2025 — Barbados Royals vs. Saint Lucia Kings
Barbados Royals stunned leaders Saint Lucia Kings by 27 runs for their first CPL 2025 victory. Posting 191/5 through Brandon King (42) and Rovman Powell (41*), the Royals bowled superbly with Daniel Sams (3/31) and Ramon Simmonds (3/28) to restrict the Kings, reviving their playoff chances at home.
Match 25 — September 7, 2025 — Guyana Amazon Warriors vs. St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
Mohammad Rizwan’s classy 85 and Naseem Shah’s nerveless final over handed St Kitts & Nevis Patriots a dramatic five-run win over Guyana Amazon Warriors. Chasing 166, the Warriors needed 11 off the last over, but Shah’s yorkers prevailed. The result kept the Patriots’ playoff hopes alive in thrilling fashion.
POINTS TABLE
- Saint Lucia Kings – 12
- Trinbago Knight Riders – 12
- Antigua & Barbuda Falcons – 9
- Guyana Amazon Warriors – 8
- St Kitts & Nevis Patriots – 6
- Barbados Royals – 3
TOP PERFORMERS
Most Runs
- Colin Munro (TKR) – 369
- Shai Hope (GAW) – 346
- Tim Seifert (SLK) – 337
- Andre Fletcher (SKNP) – 297
- Kieron Pollard (TKR) – 291
Most Wickets
- Imran Tahir (GAW) – 14
- Waqar Salamkheil (SKNP) – 13
- Tabraiz Shamsi (SLK) – 12
- Jason Holder (SKNP) – 11
- Usman Tariq (TKR) – 11
Highest Scores
- Tim Seifert (SLK) – 125*
- Colin Munro (TKR) – 120
- Brandon King (BR) – 98*
- Andries Gous (ABF) – 85*
- Shai Hope (GAW) – 82
Most Sixes
- Kieron Pollard (TKR) – 25
- Tim Seifert (SLK) – 20
- Rovman Powell (BR) – 18
- Jason Holder (SKNP) – 16
- Nicholas Pooran (TKR) – 16
Best Bowling Figures
- Imran Tahir (GAW) – 5/21
- Jason Holder (SKNP) – 4/14
- Waqar Salamkheil (SKNP) – 4/22
- Imran Tahir (GAW) – 4/27
- Usman Tariq (TKR) – 4/33
KEY TRENDS
Close finishes everywhere: Four of the six contests this week were decided in the final over. Nail-biting finishes highlight what has been one of the most keenly contested CPLs in history. With the pressure mounting, this trend looks set to continue.
Spin dominance: Imran Tahir, Waqar Salamkheil, and Tabraiz Shamsi showed this week that spin continues to be a match-winning weapon on Caribbean pitches. Four of the top five bowlers in the tournament are spinners. Spinners also dominate the best averages in the tournament, while several feature among the most economical.
Middle-order power: While opening partnerships dominated the first half of the tournament, potency in the middle order has been decisive in pressure games. Tim Seifert and Shai Hope (twice) settled contests this week with composure and confidence.
TALKING POINTS
Can the Knight Riders bounce back?
The Knight Riders clinched their playoff berth during their home leg but were promptly battered by the Kings before falling to the Amazon Warriors in the last over. Has complacency set in, and can the Dwayne Bravo-led coaching unit get his team singing from the same hymn sheet again?
Can the Royals make a late surge?
Winless in six games, the Royals finally broke their duck against the table-topping Kings. With two home matches and the mercurial Amazon Warriors still to play at Providence, a late run could see them sneak into the playoffs.
Are the Warriors too dependent on their stars?
Hope was the big story for the Amazon Warriors this week with a match-winning 62* against the Royals and another decisive 53 in the win against the Knight Riders. He was also their top scorer (31) in the loss to the Patriots. Hope is a world-class talent, but the Warriors need consistency from their supporting cast to stabilize run production.
The Patriots have started to deliver under pressure:
After three damaging losses, the Patriots finally held their nerve, beating the Amazon Warriors at Providence. Rizwan’s superb 85 off 62 balls was key, and he could be the man to lead them across the line again against the Royals at Kensington this week.
EMERGING STORYLINES
The Kings’ well-rounded bowling unit:
Shamsi was key for the Kings in a week they humbled the Knight Riders but then faltered against the Royals. The St Lucia outfit has an enviable bowling attack, with Shamsi well-supported in the spin department by Roston Chase and Khary Pierre. Their seamers, led by skipper David Wiese, have also been productive. They remain tournament favorites.
Hope’s consistency:
Hope had a brilliant week, top-scoring three times and helping the Amazon Warriors to two victories. His 346 runs have only been bettered by Colin Munro this season. Hope remains the trump card for the 2023 champions.
Reliable Rizwan:
Rizwan was parachuted into the Patriots set-up after Fazalhaq Farooqi departed for international duty. His 85 against the Warriors pulled the Patriots through in a must-win match, giving the team belief going into their do-or-die clash with the Royals. Pakistan’s loss was the Patriots’ gain.
Resilient Royals:
Just when it looked like the Royals were heading for the exit, they pulled off a convincing win over the defending champions. They have struggled to close out games this season, but with the monkey off their back, they could provide a few headaches in the coming week.
WOMEN’S CPL
The Massy Women’s Caribbean Premier League began with back-to-back thrillers in Providence. Guyana Amazon Warriors edged Trinbago Knight Riders by six runs in the opener, thanks to Stafanie Taylor’s 45, Laura Harris’ 3/25, and Molly Penfold’s nerveless final over. But the Warriors’ momentum was halted a day later when defending champions Barbados Royals chased down a DLS-adjusted 137 with four balls to spare. Realeanna Grimmond struck the tournament’s first half-century (61) for the Warriors, but Royals skipper Chinelle Henry’s blistering 37 off 19 sealed a seven-wicket win, lifting her side to the top of the WCPL table.
OFF THE FIELD
World’s Strongest Man Visits Royals:
The Barbados Royals had a giant surprise this week when Mark Henry, famously dubbed the “World’s Strongest Man,” dropped in on their camp. The two-time Olympian, former powerlifting world champion, and former WWE wrestler brought his trademark charisma, revealing he has watched cricket in the UK and India. Royals skipper Rovman Powell and head coach Trevor Penney presented Henry with a jersey emblazoned with “WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN” and the number “01.”
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“Unfortunately, we’ve played five games in a really short time, and that has taken a lot out of the guys, mentally and physically.” — Nicholas Pooran
“Home advantage and playing in Guyana is something special, and we all feel that.” — Imran Tahir
“I love bowling in pressure situations. I’ve worked really hard to develop my yorkers and slow deliveries.” — Salman Irshad
“Kieron Pollard is the only one who can do that, so we have to appreciate it.” — Imran Tahir
“Keep supporting us. As much as this win is for us, it is for you guys.” — Rovman Powell
“You can’t always go by modern cricket standards here in the Caribbean because the pitches are difficult.” — Mohammad Rizwan
UPCOMING FIXTURES
- Sept 10: GAW vs. ABF — Guyana
- Sept 11: BR vs. SKNP — Barbados
- Sept 12: BR vs. TKR — Barbados
- Sept 13: GAW vs. SLK — Guyana
- Sept 14: BR vs. SLK — Barbados
VERDICT
The points table is tightening, and momentum going into the playoffs is almost as vital as points. The Knight Riders and the Kings are safe, the Amazon Warriors remain enigmatic, the Falcons are still soaring, the Royals have a short lifeline, and the Patriots are still in with a sniff thanks to Rizwan’s brilliance. With five preliminary round matches to go, the margin for error is shrinking—and the drama is only just beginning.
