KINGS BEAT FALCONS IN FINAL OVER THRILLER

Andries Gous powered St Lucia Kings to a thrilling 4-run win over the Antigua and Barbuda Falcons in match number 3 of the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League. The Kings took first strike and posted a challenging 1-hundred-87 for 8 in their 20 overs in another rain affected encounter. Gous smashed 6 fours and 6 sixes on his way to a 51 balls 82 runs against some great work in the field from the Falcons with five brilliant catches. Alzarri Joseph’s 3-for-32 and Shamar Springer’s 2-for-39 led the bowling charge.

Falcons started their reply on a high with Rahkeem Cornwall smashing five boundaries from just 13 deliveries on his way to 27 before he was dismissed by Maheesh Theekshana. Evin Lewis was joined at crease by Tim Robinson and the pair put on a 56-run partnership to have the Falcons cruising at 109-for-2 after 10 overs and well on their way to victory.

The dismissal of Evin Lewis for a top score of 48, Karima Gore (2) and Tajinder Singh (21) in the middle overs signaled a momentum shift in favor of the Kings. The match eventually came down to the final over with the Falcons needing 13 runs for victory with Fabian Allen and Jahmar Hamilton at the crease. Matthew Forde trusted with the final over bowled brilliantly removing Fabian Allen and Shamar Springer via the runout route while conceding only 8 runs to hand Kings a 4-run win.

Roston Chase, St Lucia Kings captain said, “…it was too close for me. I thought that we had a good score on the board. And when I told my guys that we tried to defend 160, I thought 160 was a good total to defend. But we didn't start as well as we'd like, but we pulled back the game, and I'm happy for the win.”

Meanwhile, Fabian Allen credits his team’s fighting spirit despite the loss “Credit to St. Lucia. They put us under pressure. But having said that, I think the boys fight to the end, but we did not get over the line, unfortunately.”

The Falcons will get to avenge this defeat when the two meet again on Friday in Saint Lucia