KINGSMEN CONQUERED KNIGHT RIDERS FOR 1ST CPL WIN

It was victory at last for the newbies in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League as the Jamaica Kingsmen ticked the win column for the first time this season. They took down the Trinbago Knight Riders comfortably by 5 wickets with 8 balls to spare on the back of Kirk McKenzie’s masterful half century.

Rovman Powell won the toss and asked Nicholas Pooran’s Knight Riders to bat first, openers Colin Munro and Alex Hayles struggled to get going against some disciplined bowling by the Kingsmen in the powerplay. Colin Munro struggled to 16 off 26 balls before being dismissed by Andre Russell as Knight Riders ended the powerplay at 38-for-1, Vitel Lawes removed Alex Hayles in the 11th over for a laboring 29 from 21. Kieron Pollard joined captain Nicholas Pooran at the crease as the pair upped the tempo, Pollard hit a boundary and three consecutive sixes off Vitel Lawes in the 13th over and Pooran hitting two maximums in next over off Odean Smith added 67 for the 3rd wicket.

Both were eventually dismissed for a joint top score of 44 by Hunain Shah and Andre Russell, a 10 ball 19 from Sunil Narine pushed the Knight Riders to 182-for-6 off their 20 overs. Hunain Shah 2-for-31 and Andre Russell 2-for-34 were the leading wicket takers, Keemo Paul and Vitel Lawes picked a wicket each.

Chasing a target of 183 for their first CPL win, Kingsmen promoted Kirk McKenzie up the order to open the batting a move Powell said was to counter TKR spin attack. That move paid off brilliantly as McKenzie smashed 6 fours and 6 sixes on his way to a delightful 69 off 25 deliveries. McKenzie departed in the 7th over with the score on 93-for-1, Shayan Jahangir struggles continued as he was sent back for 2 by UsmanTariq. Reeza Hendricks followed shortly after for 37 as the Kingsmen started to wobble a bit with the target in sight.

However, Rovman Powell and Andre Russell got things back on track, scoring 45 runs off two overs putting on 48 for the 5th wicket. Terrence Hinds removed Russell for 27 with Kingsmen needing another 9 runs to win, Powell 29 got them over the line to 183-for-5 in 18-point-4 overs. Usman Tariq was the pick of the bowlers with 3-for-21 off his 4 overs.

Captain Rovman Powell was happy with his teams first win and had high praises for Kirk McKenzie. “…gelling takes a little bit of time, it’s just good to get a win in front of our fans. In a pressure game like this, that's what you want, it's excellent to see a youngster stand up like that.”

Kingsmen will close out their CPL home leg on Tuesday against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots