Tridents cruise to victory over Patriots

Playing the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, the Tridents had struggled initially at the top of the order to get the ball away, A.B. de Villiers, who was given a number of life lines went on to score 82 off 54 balls which included nine boundaries and three sixes.

 

One of the scary moments came as there was a collision between JJ Smuts and Kieran Powell on the boundary. With both players lying on the boundary almost motionless after they both went for the catch to dismiss de Villiers, Powell was taken off the field by an ambulance. Powell took no further part in the match but Smuts was able to open the batting for the Patriots later.

 

The Tridents had slumped to 12/2 in the third over with both openers failing to make any significant contribution to the score.

 

Just when it seemed Shoaib Malik was going on the attack he lobbed a ball to Sheldon Cottrell and walked back having scored 16 and the Tridents reeling on 29/3.

 

The fireworks for the Tridents came as de Villiers was first joined by Nicholas Pooran who scored a quick fire 38 off 19 balls and then the captain Kieron Pollard as the Tridents got up to 180/6, thanks to the acceleration in the middle and the end of the innings.

 

De Villiers was well supported by Nicolas Pooran and Kieron Pollard as the Tridents managed 180-6 off their 20 overs, a formidable target for a misfiring Patriots team to chase down.

 

In reply the Patriots got off to a much better start than the Trident losing their first wicket for 35 in the third over as Lendl Simmons was stumped on 18.

 

But the run rate kept on climbing with each passing over and at the half way stage the run rate had reached just under 11 runs per over.

 

With 103 runs required with nine overs to go things started to desperate as the run rate reached 13.6 in the 15th over.

 

Faf du Plessis tried to accelerate but was bowled by left arm seemer Ramon Reifer for 42 off 38 balls which included five boundaries.

 

Jonathan Carter tried to swing for the ropes but the boundaries kept on eluding them and the run rate kept on climbing.

 

Carter was given a life line when he was caught but it was a no-ball.

 

The mountain kept on getting bigger with 47 runs off 18 balls needed.

 

Carter sent Ravi Rampaul over the boundary as the run rate climbed over 14 runs per over but then found AB De Villiers on the long off boundary and was gone for 46 runs off 38 balls which included two sixes and one four.

 

Devon Thomas went on the very next delivery skying a ball to Wayne Parnell on the boundary.

 

Wayne Parnell who was a cats whiskers away from a no ball bowled Cottrell and gave the crowd a jig.

 

The final over started with the Patritos needing 30 runs and Imran Khan stepped up with his right arm spin to bowl for the Tridents.

 

The very first ball brought was a wicket then the next was a dot ball and the third brought a single.

 

The next three balls yielded only three runs and the Tridents won the game by 25 runs. (CG)