by Vidia Ramphal
The Trinbago Knight Riders stormed into the next stage of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a commanding nine-wicket win over the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in the Eliminator on Wednesday night in Guyana.
Batting first, the Falcons posted 166 for 8, anchored by a brilliant 108-run stand between Andries Gous and Amir Jangoo, despite Saurabh Netravalkar’s superb 3 for 23.
The Knight Riders came out firing, with Pooran (90*) and Hales (54*) taking them across the line with 15 balls to spare.
Pooran’s men will next play the loser of Wednesday’s Qualifier 1 between the St Lucia Kings and the Guyana Amazon Warriors on Friday.
MAIN TALKING POINTS
Falcons Fall Short with the Bat
The Falcons’ 166 for 8 was built around a superb 108-run stand between Gous and Jangoo. However, once they were dismissed, wickets tumbled in clusters, leaving the innings about 20 runs short.
“With seven or eight wickets in hand, we should have gone harder, but unfortunately that’s not the case. Still, we played really good cricket throughout the tournament,” a Falcons player said.
TKR Bowlers Deliver
Saurabh Netravalkar (3/23) made the early breakthrough before Tariq (2/19) removed both Gous and Jangoo, while Russell (2/30) struck twice in the final over. Pooran rotated his bowling options smartly and found the right balance in the end. Tariq’s unorthodox style again made the difference, setting up the finish before Netravalkar and Russell returned to close out the innings.
Pooran Leads from the Front
The Knight Riders’ chase was a showcase of power and composure. Promoted to number three, Pooran put his patchy form behind him to play an innings of authority. The left-hander mixed clean hitting with maturity to finish unbeaten on 90 and earn the Player of the Match Award.
“I’ve been digging deep throughout the innings, and today, getting the opportunity to bat at three, and being asked to step up, I had to lead from the front,” Pooran said.
Hales Delivers Again
Englishman Alex Hales once more underlined his value with a fluent 54. His partnership with Pooran nullified any pressure as TKR cruised to 168 for 1 in just 17.3 overs.
“(Hales is) class. He’s been really good throughout the tournament. The last few games, as a group, we haven’t batted well, but it’s really nice that we could stitch a partnership together,” Pooran added.
Knight Riders End Losing Streak
Pooran praised the collective effort, highlighting the resilience shown after a disappointing run of batting performances.
“The last couple of days have been disappointing for us as a group, especially coming here to Guyana. Today, it didn’t matter how we got the win—we just had to,” he said.
Narine Becomes CPL’s Top Wicket-Taker
Sunil Narine climbed to the top of the all-time wicket-takers list when he dismissed Imad Wasim for 1. The mystery spinner now has 130 wickets in 124 matches, surpassing TKR coach Dwayne Bravo (129 wickets in 107 matches). However, Imran Tahir is close behind with 125 wickets in only 88 games.
Falcons Look to the Future
For the Falcons, elimination was a tough pill to swallow, but captain Imad Wasim pointed to the emergence of young talent as a positive for the new franchise, which made the playoffs in just its second season.
“In our team, Karime Gore is a very good player, and Jewel Andrew and Jangoo played well,” Wasim said. “Jayden Seales is my number one pick. The way he runs in, the way he bowls, and his attitude toward the game are excellent. I am really looking forward to him playing for the West Indies and showcasing his talent there as well.”
VERDICT
Fans will be haunted by TKR’s three straight losses at the end of the preliminary round. However, the explosive brilliance of Pooran and Hales will give them hope that the Knight Riders’ worst days are behind them.
In the bowling department, Netravalkar—stepping up in the absence of Mohammad Amir—has been a valuable addition to an attack already boasting Narine, Akeal Hosein, and Andre Russell. Tariq’s unorthodox bowling continues to trouble batters, with his 15 wickets making him the second-most successful bowler in the competition.
The Knight Riders’ emphatic win keeps their title charge alive as they prepare for Qualifier 2 with momentum firmly on their side.
