Vidia Ramphal Aug 26, 2025
The 2025 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is nearing its midway point, and the annual tournament has already delivered a heady mixture of close finishes, explosive batting, and standout individual performances. Fans have been treated to a range of death-overs drama, career milestones for established stars, and emerging talents carving niches for themselves in T20 cricket’s marquee tournament.
For Trinbago Knight Riders fans, it was a mixed week: a close loss to the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons was followed by a solid win over defending champions, the Saint Lucia Kings. Optimism for a fifth title is rising with key players making their presence felt. Colin Munro is producing runs at the top of the order, and Kieron Pollard has delivered some vintage performances in the middle order. Sunil Narine has been as solid as ever, and Usman Tariq continues to pick up key wickets. However, fans are yet to see the best of Alex Hales, Andre Russell, Nicholas Pooran, and Mohammed Amir.
Here’s how this week’s matches unfolded…
Match 6 — August 19, 2025 — Saint Lucia Kings vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
At Warner Park, the Saint Lucia Kings edged the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots by three runs. Powered by Roston Chase’s 61, Johnson Charles’ 52, and Tim David’s 46, the Kings posted 200/8. Despite Jason Holder’s 63 and Navin Bidaisee’s debut 50, the Patriots fell just short.
Match 7 — August 20, 2025 — Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Trinbago Knight Riders
The Falcons beat the Knight Riders by 8 runs in a cliffhanger at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. Fabian Allen’s 45 lifted the Falcons to 167/6 before Obed McCoy’s 4/39 restricted TKR. Despite Kieron Pollard’s unbeaten 43-run surge, Shamar Springer’s composed final over sealed victory.
Match 8 — August 21, 2025 — St Kitts & Nevis Patriots vs Barbados Royals
The Patriots got past the Royals by 12 runs in a thriller at Warner Park. Kyle Mayers (42) and Jason Holder (38, plus 4/14) starred for the hosts, lifting them to 174/8 before bowling out the Royals. Holder’s brilliance sealed victory, leaving the Royals winless in 2025.
Match 9 — August 22, 2025 — Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs Guyana Amazon Warriors
The Amazon Warriors crushed the Falcons by 83 runs to rise to second in the CPL. Shai Hope’s 82 and Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 65 powered them to 211/3 before skipper Imran Tahir’s brilliant 5/21 dismantled the Falcons, bowling them out for 128 inside 16 overs.
Match 10 — August 23, 2025 — Saint Lucia Kings vs Trinbago Knight Riders
TKR defeated the Kings by 18 runs in Gros Islet to move third in the CPL table. Colin Munro scored 43, Nicholas Pooran added 34, and Kieron Pollard’s explosive 63 lifted TKR to 183/7. Andre Russell closed out the Kings’ chase, sealing their first loss of the season.
Match 11 — August 24, 2025 — Antigua & Barbuda Falcons vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots
The Falcons edged the Patriots by 7 wickets in a tense clash, chasing 134 with two balls to spare. Shakib Al Hasan starred with three wickets, reaching 500 career T20 scalps, while Karima Gore’s composed half-century sealed victory, keeping the Falcons top of the table.
Match 12 — August 24, 2025 — Saint Lucia Kings vs Barbados Royals
A damp squib at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. The match was abandoned without a ball bowled, the second no-result for the home team. The Royals earned their first point of the season after two straight losses, but they remain at the bottom of the table, three points adrift of the Kings.
POINTS TABLE
CPL 2025 Points Table (Week 2)
| Position | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Antigua & Barbuda Falcons | 7 |
| 2 | Guyana Amazon Warriors | 4 |
| 3 | Trinbago Knight Riders | 4 |
| 4 | St Kitts & Nevis Patriots | 4 |
| 5 | Saint Lucia Kings | 4 |
| 6 | Barbados Royals | 1 |
TOP PERFORMERS
Most Runs
- Karima Gore (ABF) – 218
- Colin Munro (TKR) – 207
- Andre Fletcher (SKNP) – 186
- Jason Holder (SKNP) – 179
- Shai Hope (GAW) – 138
Most Wickets
- Waqar Salamkheil (SKNP) – 10
- Usman Tariq (TKR) – 8
- Jason Holder (SKNP) – 8
- Obed McCoy (ABF) – 8
- Imran Tahir (GAW) – 7
Highest Scores
- Colin Munro (TKR) – 125
- Shai Hope (GAW) – 82
- Ben McDermott (GAW) – 75
- Shimron Hetmyer (GAW) – 65*
- Kieron Pollard (TKR) – 65
Most Sixes
- Jason Holder (SKNP) – 14
- Kieron Pollard (TKR) – 11
- Andre Fletcher (SKNP) – 10
- Colin Munro (TKR) – 8
- Johnson Charles (SLK) – 7
Best Bowling Figures
- Imran Tahir (GAW) – 5/21
- Jason Holder (SKNP) – 4/14
- Waqar Salamkheil (SKNP) – 4/22
- Usman Tariq (TKR) – 4/33
- Obed McCoy (ABF) – 4/39
KEY TRENDS
Tight finishes dominate: Four of the six contests went down to the last over, underscoring the balance across franchises this season. The Kings’ last-ball victory over the Patriots, and the Falcons’ third straight win over TKR, stand out as the best games so far. Except for the Royals, who are yet to reach their full potential, the remaining five teams are well-stocked with talent, making this one of the best starts to a CPL season.
All-rounders in command: Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Kieron Pollard, and Shakib Al Hasan have all swung games with bat and ball. Holder has impressed since joining the Patriots: he has the third-most runs and wickets in the tournament and has hit the most sixes so far. Pollard is having his best season in some time, averaging 63.50 with 127 runs in three matches and taking the Player of the Match award in TKR’s win over the Kings.
Falcons remain early leaders: In just their second CPL season, the Falcons sit top of the table. They’ve shown grit and guts in close games, with Karima Gore and Obed McCoy stepping up. However, their weaknesses were exposed by the Amazon Warriors, who outclassed them with the bat and spin of Imran Tahir.
Warriors’ power surge: The Warriors flexed their muscle with dominant batting displays and Tahir’s record figures. Hope struck 82 off 54 balls and Hetmyer smashed 65 not out off 26. Only six batters have made it out to the middle for Guyana so far, a testament to their dominance. With Tahir supported by Pretorius, Shepherd, and Motie, their attack is both lethal and economical.
Royals floundering: Still winless, the Royals look short on both form and confidence. Heavy defeats to the Falcons and Patriots have compounded their struggles. Powell (72), de Kock (72), and Alleyne (55) top their scoring chart, while Ramon Simmonds and Daniel Sams (three wickets each) are their only bright spots with the ball.
TALKING POINTS
Bidaisee’s breakout: On debut, Navin Bidaisee’s sparkling 50 almost carried the Patriots over the line in Game 6. Better known for his leg-spin, the Biche-born all-rounder displayed promise with bat and ball. He also claimed 2/33 in their win over the Royals and bowled a miserly 1/17 in their loss against the Falcons.
Obed McCoy, the match-winner: His 4/39 closed out TKR in Game 7. On a pitch where the ball gripped, the St Vincent pacer made the ball talk with his variations. He has eight wickets at 16.75 so far in 2025.
Holder’s captaincy heroics: A superb all-round showing in Game 8 (38 runs, 4/14) inspired the Patriots to victory over his former team, the Royals. After two lean years, the move to St Kitts & Nevis has revitalized him. Holder insists he hasn’t changed much in preparation but admitted he is playing with a clearer mind and greater decisiveness.
Tahir’s masterclass: Game 9 saw him take a career-best 5/21, ripping through the Falcons’ batting order, which included Shakib and Allen. At 46, Tahir continues to prove age is just a number. The top wicket-taker in the Global Super League last month, he is still at his peak.
Pollard’s fireworks: Six sixes and four fours lit up Gros Islet in Game 10 as TKR revived their campaign. Despite taking a knock in practice the day before, Pollard strapped up and produced a vintage 65 in a statement win.
Shakib’s historic milestone: Game 11 confirmed him as the first player with 500 wickets and 7,000 runs in T20 cricket. He joins Rashid Khan, Bravo, Narine, and Tahir in the 500 club, cementing his place as arguably the greatest T20 all-rounder.
Amir joins the 400 club: TKR pacer Amir picked up his 400th T20 wicket in their loss to the Falcons. However, he has yet to reach his best, averaging over 38 with the ball and conceding 9.58 runs per over.
EMERGING STORYLINES
- Falcons strong, but beatable: Their fighting spirit makes them contenders, but Guyana’s big win exposed vulnerabilities. They need three wins from their last four games to seal playoffs.
- Warriors’ ominous rise: With Hetmyer, Hope, and Tahir in form, the unbeaten Warriors look the team to beat.
- Patriots inconsistent: Holder and Bidaisee shine, but batting frailties and Rizwan’s slow start remain issues.
- Royals in crisis: Winless and struggling with confidence, Powell’s side must regroup before their home stretch.
- TKR back in contention: Pollard’s resurgence, Munro’s runs, and home advantage make them strong playoff favourites.
- Kings need urgency: Underwhelming so far, but with three home games ahead, they can still break into the top two.
- Legends vs newcomers: Shakib, Holder, and Pollard headline, while rising stars Bidaisee and Gore shape the tournament’s future.
QUOTES OF THE WEEK
- “It’s not really hard for me to transition. I just tend to base my game on what’s required for the team, and that puts me in good standing in executing what I’m looking to do.” – Roston Chase
- “(On Bidaisee) For a guy coming in for his first game and playing the way he did…I thought he showed a lot of heart…Looking at his performance, particularly, I was very, very pleased for him.” – Jason Holder
- “We gave that game away there. Kudos to them, they bowled well in the middle overs. A couple of loose shots from us, we need to take accountability as well.” – Nicholas Pooran
- “I don’t think I’m doing anything majorly different; I just have a clear mind and I’m making more decisive choices.” – Jason Holder
- “I feel really proud, especially taking the Man of the Match award from Sir Viv Richards. That doesn’t happen often. I’m going to cherish that forever.” – Imran Tahir
- “(Pollard) got hit on his shoulder the day before and wasn’t sure if he was going to play, but he strapped up, came out like a warrior, and performed like Kieron Pollard.” – Nicholas Pooran
UPCOMING FIXTURES
- 26 Aug – Saint Lucia Kings vs Guyana Amazon Warriors – St Lucia
- 27 Aug – Trinbago Knight Riders vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons – Trinidad
- 28 Aug – Saint Lucia Kings vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots – St Lucia
- 29 Aug – Trinbago Knight Riders vs Barbados Royals – Trinidad
- 30 Aug – Trinbago Knight Riders vs Guyana Amazon Warriors – Trinidad
- 31 Aug – Saint Lucia Kings vs Antigua & Barbuda Falcons – St Lucia
- 1 Sept – Trinbago Knight Riders vs St Kitts & Nevis Patriots – Trinidad
VERDICT
TKR and the Kings should be leading the table by next week, with the Amazon Warriors close behind. The fourth play-off spot will be a battle between the Patriots and the Falcons, with the Royals most likely eliminated first. But with teams so closely matched, upsets are inevitable.
As the CPL heads into its latter stages, the mid-season storylines are setting the stage for a thrilling finish. Teams will look to consolidate strengths, fix weaknesses, and ride momentum. Fans can expect more nail-biting finishes, standout performances, and the rise of new stars ready to leave their mark on CPL 2025.
📲 Follow EXTV Online
🌐 Website: extvmedia.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @EXTV_TT
📘 Facebook: ExtraTimeTVTT
📸 Instagram: @extratimetvtt
🛍️ Support EXTV
💥 Love our coverage? Support us and grab official EXTV merch below:
👉 Shop Now
🎮 ESPNFC’s Shaka Hislop chats with EXTV about E-Sports – Watch Here
📺 Subscribe to our #EXTV YouTube channel – Click
