St Lucia Kings capture maiden CPL crown

ST LUCIA Kings captured their maiden Republic Bank-sponsored Caribbean Premier League (CPL) crown with a hard-fought six-wicket win over hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors at the Providence Stadium, Guyana on October 6.

The Amazon Warriors, who were defending their title, posted a score of 138 runs for the loss of eight wickets, and the Kings responded with 139/4 off 18.1 overs.

Here is a look at the good, and the bad, for each of the performing teams (as far as individual displays are concerned)

ST LUCIA KINGS

Good: The opening pair of Johnson Charles and skipper Faf du Plessis, and the threat posed by Noor Ahmad.

Charles and du Plessis may each be in the twilight of their T20 careers, but both led the way with the bat for the Kings this season – thus far. Charles was the season’s third-leading run-getter with 452 from 12 innings at 41.09 while du Plessis, the ex-South Africa captain, was next with 405 from 12 innings at 36.81.

New Zealand’s wicketkeeper/batsman Tim Seifert (257) and experienced West Indies’ all-rounder Roston Chase (183) were the only other batsman to cross 150 runs this season.

Ahmad, from Afghanistan, was the season’s leading wicket-taker, with 22 at 13.22. Alzarri Joseph was next on the Kings’ list, with 16, followed by fellow pacer, Namibia’s David Wiese, with 13.

Bad: Much more was expected from Matthew Forde, who snapped up only three wickets at 61.0, with an economy rate of 9.63.

GUYANA AMAZON WARRIORS

Good: Useful returns, with bat and ball, from a few key players.

With the bat – Shimron Hetmyer led the way with 402 runs at 40.2, Shai Hope 391 at 30.07 and Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz 269 at 29.88.

With the ball – Gudakesh Motie gathered 17 scalps at 18.64, followed by the South African pair of captain (and leg-spinner) Imran Tahir and pacer Dwaine Pretorious with 16 apiece. Recently-retired England off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali was fourth with 15.

Bad: Another off-spinning all-rounder Kevin Sinclair had a forgettable 2024 CPL – he scored 37 runs from four innings and only took one wicket.

BARBADOS ROYALS

Good: Quinton de Kock’s batting and their wicket-taking options.

De Kock was comfortably placed at the top of the tournament’s run-scoring list, with a tally of 453 runs off 12 innings, at an average of 45.3, with a top-score of 115 against the Amazon Warriors on September 14. Fellow South African, David Miller, was the only other batsman who went past 200 overall (268 off nine innings at 44.66).

The Royals have gotten wickets from a number of bowlers. Sri Lanka’s off-spinner Maheesh Theekshana was the team’s best with 17 (average 17.52) while Afghanistan pacer Naveen-ul-Haq had 11. West Indies’ pace duo of Jason Holder and Obed McCoy each claimed 10 wickets.

Bad: Decline of Rakheem Cornwall and lack of growth from Nyeem Young.

As de Kock’s opening partner for the first four games, Cornwall started his 2024 CPL with a knock of 34, and followed up with three ducks, and lost his place in the team. After his comical run-out during last year’s edition and his poor form with the bat (he hardly bowls his off-breaks in T20 cricket), one wonders what’s next for Cornwall, at least in this format.

Young, who was seen as a potential WI white-ball all-rounder, hardly made a note this season; he scored 17 runs in three innings and only claimed one wicket with his brisk medium pace.

TRINBAGO KNIGHT RIDERS

Good: The batting returns from Nicholas Pooran, with support from present and past West Indies teammates Keacy Carty and skipper Kieron Pollard; as well as the spin pair of Waqar Salamkheil and Sunil Narine.

Pooran scored a vital century (101) against the Amazon Warriors in the final preliminary round match, and he topped the overall batting charts with 504 runs from 11 innings at 56.0.

Carty was a replacement player for the Knight Riders in 2023, but he has showed his adaptability in this format, with a return of 246 runs from 10 innings at 30.75. Pollard was third on the list with 235 at 33.57.

Salamkheil, an Afghanistan left-arm unorthodox spinner, snapped up 15 wickets at 21.73 while Narine claimed 12 at 12.58.

Bad: Dwayne Bravo, who saw his final CPL season cut short by a groin injury, on Trinidad and Tobago’s Republic Day, at home against the Kings.

ANTIGUA/BARBUDA FALCONS

Good: The growth of both Justin Greaves and Shamar Springer, the all-round consistency of Imad Wasim, the potential shown by Jewel Andrew and the inputs from Fakhar Zaman and Chris Green.

Greaves has been used merely as an opening batsman, but he was steady throughout, amassing 225 runs from seven innings at 37.5. Andrew, the WI Under-19 wicketkeeper/batsman, has also been used as a batsman only, but his returns was decent – 128 at 25.60. Zaman, who left the team due to international commitments, tallied 159 runs from five innings.

Wasim has been one of the best all-rounders this season, as he compiled 177 runs at 35.4 and taken nine wickets at 29.33.

Springer was his team’s leading wicket-taker with 12 at 18.0, with captain, and off-spinner Green, next with 10 at 23.2.

Bad: Luck, as the Patriots lost a few closely-fought encounters, while the unavailability, for the most part, of opening batsman Brandon King (injury) was telling.

ST KITTS/NEVIS PATRIOTS

Good: The batting from the established trio of captain Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers and Evin Lewis, as well as Mikyle Louis; and the bowling of Anrich Nortje.

Fletcher was the team’s major run-getter with 318 from 10 innings at 31.8, with Mayers tallying 268 at 26.80 and Lewis, the team’s only century-maker (100 against St Lucia Kings), compiling 248 at 27.55. However, the consistency of Louis (201 from eight innings at 28.71) was a revelation.

Nortje has been the only positive light, as far as the Patriots’ bowling is concerned – 12 at 27.83.

Bad: Everything else.

Sherfane Rutherford leaving the team for personal reasons (he is an established West Indies T20 player) spoke volumes, while there was been constant chopping and changing of the team’s lineups. Also, Dominic Drakes flattered to deceive this season, which epitomised the team’s struggles in 2024.

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