BR VS SKN T20S

Right then, the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have pulled off an important win here, and with this result, the CPL 2025 table gets even more exciting. Next up, the action moves to North Sound for Match 9, where Antigua and Barbuda Falcons will face Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday, 23rd August. The first ball will be bowled at 4.30 am IST (11 pm GMT, the previous day). Do join us an hour earlier for the pre-match build-up and insights. Until then, take care! CIAO!

The victorious skipper of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Jason Holder, is again up for a quick chat. He highlights that they came from some tough games, but it was good to see the boys stepping up. He further adds that he told the guys that decision-making will be very crucial in this game. Appreciates the young players for taking the responsibility as well. Admits that they were short of runs, but the seamers did extremely well. On the crowd and the support for his team, he says this was a special one for him as well. Says this is a new franchise for him and ends by thanking the crowd for rallying behind the boys constantly.

The Barbados Royals' skipper, Rovman Powell, admits it is disappointing to throw a game away like this, especially as the middle overs didn’t go to plan, with the batting turning into a ‘six or out’ approach. Feels that it was a good wicket where players had to get themselves out, but they simply didn’t bat well enough. Powell stresses the importance of fighting till the end, as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots showed, and regrets that the team has now lost two matches they should have won. Adds that if they were told at the start they’d be chasing 170-180, they would have taken it, but poor fielding has hurt them in back-to-back games. Still, Powell takes encouragement from the efforts of young Ramon Simmonds and believes there are positives to build on despite the disappointment.

The captain of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Jason Holder, is unarguably the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his sensational all-round performance. He says it feels really good to get a win in front of the home crowd. Reflects that they have had some tough games, but the guys kept believing and showed character in this game. Says he is trying his best to work it out. Mentions that they have a lot of bowling options. Highlights that Waqar Salamkheil was not at his best in this game, and he had to bring on the pacers. Shares that he is trying to understand the guys a bit more and wants to have a clear, decisive mind when he enters the field.

Time for the Post-Match Presentations...

Earlier in the game, Rovman Powell won the toss and invited the Patriots to bat first. It was the Patriots who had to battle hard with the bat. Losing Lewis, Rossouw, and Rizwan cheaply, they found themselves wobbling at 45/3 inside six overs. Andre Fletcher’s attacking cameo gave them a bit of momentum, but the innings truly took shape when Kyle Mayers and Jason Holder combined in the middle. Their 49-run partnership rebuilt the innings, with Mayers striking 42 and Holder smashing 38. Though a mini-collapse followed, but the cameos from Naseem Shah and Abbas Afridi in the final overs helped the Patriots push their total to 174. The Royals’ bowlers had their moments too, as Ramon Simmonds bowled beautifully in the Powerplay and picked up three wickets overall, while Daniel Sams was superb with his slower cutters, finishing with 2/24. Yet, the Royals’ inability to contain runs at the death came back to haunt them.

The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots’ bowling deserves every bit of credit. Jason Holder was the clear standout, his figures of 4/14 not just effective but inspirational, showing why he remains one of the most trusted leaders in Caribbean cricket. Naseem Shah chipped in with two wickets at the back end, keeping the batters guessing with his sharp pace, while Navin Bidaisee’s double strike in the middle overs was vital. Abbas Afridi, too, made an impact with the big scalp of Alleyne. Holder’s tactical decisions, like introducing Abbas at the right time, paid off handsomely, while his own fiery spell made the ultimate difference.

The middle and lower order could not provide the stability the Royals needed. Daniel Sams threatened with two mighty sixes, raising hopes again, but Holder’s clever slower ball sent him packing. To make matters worse, Nyeem Young fell on the very next delivery, and Bosch also followed quickly. The Royals’ innings crumbled from 118/4 to 150/9 in under 24 balls, and despite some late hits from Ramon Simmonds, the damage had already been done. Holder’s brilliance ensured that the Royals fell short at 162, leaving the Patriots with a famous victory.

Chasing 175, the Barbados Royals got off to a good start with Quinton de Kock and Brandon King finding the boundaries early, though both perished inside the Powerplay. But then, Kadeem Alleyne played a crucial hand, striking cleanly and keeping the scoreboard ticking. Alongside him, Kofi James provided fireworks with a short cameo, who got a reprieve when he was on 14, where Evin Lewis dropped a relatively easy catch. But James failed to make the most of it, and his dismissal halted the momentum, followed by the wicket of Sherfane Rutherford. The skipper Rovman Powell’s entry brought belief back into the Royals’ camp as he struck a couple of classy boundaries, but the real twist arrived soon after. Both set batters - Kadeem and Powell - were dismissed within six balls, and suddenly the Royals’ chase began to stumble under the pressure.

What a PULL OFF this was at Warner Park in Basseterre! The Barbados Royals were cruising at one stage with Kadeem Alleyne and Rovman Powell steadying the chase, but then came Jason Holder with an inspired spell that turned the game on its head. Leading from the front, the skipper picked up four wickets in a sensational burst, breaking the Royals’ backbone and sealing a 12-run win for the Patriots. From cruising at 118/4, the Royals collapsed dramatically, and the Patriots’ celebration told the whole story, as this was a captain’s win. It was the last match at this ground for the home team, and they gave a memorable win for their home crowd.

OUT! LBW! Jason Holder has done it. He has snatched the game out of the claws of the Royals with a stunning 4-fer! The Patriots were done and out in the contest, but the skipper stepped up when his side needed him the most! Length ball, around off, and it jags back into the Jomel Warrican is caught in the crease and tries to work to the leg side off the back foot, but is beaten on the inside edge and is rapped on the front pad. The finger goes up on the appeal for LBW, but Jomel Warrican opts for a review. UltraEdge shows nothing, and the Ball Tracking comes up with the impact being umpire's call as the ball is projected to be clipping the top of middle and leg. ST KITTS AND NEVIS PATRIOTS WIN BY 12 RUNS!

OUT! LBW! Jason Holder has done it. He has snatched the game out of the claws of the Royals with a stunning 4-fer! The Patriots were done and out in the contest, but the skipper stepped up when his side needed him the most! Length ball, around off, and it jags back into the Jomel Warrican is caught in the crease and tries to work to the leg side off the back foot, but is beaten on the inside edge and is rapped on the front pad. The finger goes up on the appeal for LBW, but Jomel Warrican opts for a review. UltraEdge shows nothing, and the Ball Tracking comes up with the impact being umpire's call as the ball is projected to be clipping the top of middle and leg. ST KITTS AND NEVIS PATRIOTS WIN BY 12 RUNS!

Is that out? Jomel Warrican gets rapped around the knee roll, and Holder appealed, which was given by the umpire. However, the Royals have taken a review. No bat is involved, and an Umpire's call comes in on clipping the top of the middle stump. So, it is done and dusted for the Royals.

Spears it fuller and on the leg stump, Jomel Warrican flicks it along the ground, behind square leg for a couple of runs. 13 off 11 needed now!

With 15 needed of the last 12 balls, the match is still in balance as these last couple of strikes from Ramon Simmonds have fueled up the Royals, but the Patriots only need just one ball to seal it off.

A yorker, outside off, Simmonds tries to shovel it out to the off side, but misses to lay his bat on ball.

SIX! TAKE THAT, SAYS SIMMONDS! Another twist in the tale! Short and angling into the batter, Ramon Simmonds picks the length in a trice, weighs on the back foot and pulls it behind deep mid-wicket for half a dozen. 15 needed off 13 now!