Johnson Charles has become the first player to cross the 3000-run mark in the 14th Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024. Saint Lucia Kings hit 176-5 in just 16.3 overs and won by 5 wickets against St Kitts and Nevis at the famous Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium, Gros Islet.
Born on January 14, 1989, Johnson Charles, a right-handed batsman and occasional wicket-keeper, comes from the tiny Windward Island. The small nation is known for providing a surprising number of some of the best players in the West Indian team. Charles represented the West Indies ‘A’ side and played for St. Lucia in domestic cricket. He became part of both the 2012 and 2016 T20 WC winning squads that took home their nation’s proud honours.
St Lucia King won the toss and let St Kitts and Nevis Patriots bat first. Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher did the opening for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots. They hit the ground running with an outstanding partnership of 50 runs in only six overs.
St Kitts and Nevis Patriots batter Evin Lewis and Kyle Mayers failed to maintain the momentum. Lewis got out before the end of the powerplay, and Mayers followed one step later with the Patriots at 72-2 in 9.1 overs. Andre Fletcher scored 45 from 34 balls with five fours, two sixes, and 48 off 49 balls. Last, Mikyle Louis helped the team finish 173 for five wickets in 20 overs.
St Lucia Kings hunted down 174 for victory. Jonhson Charles hit 74 from 42 balls, striking four boundaries and seven sixes in this innings. Du Plessis posted a hard-hitting 62 runs from an incredible 31 balls, including five fours and the same number of sixes. At the halfway point, they left Kings on a strong base of 113 without wickets to their name.
Charles, who became the first to 3000 runs in CPL history, showed aggressive batting alongside du Plessis, struck two sixes and two fours off Permaul for a 25-ball fifty. The Kings made 100 in the ninth over, having added seven runs, and they had two wickets left.
Despite the Patriots bowlers’ best efforts, Wanindu Hasaranga was 2 for 13 off three overs, and Josh Clarkson was 2 for 18. They continued to struggle against King’s batters. Kings’ openers early damage on the Patriots, which limits any chance of recovery for them in this match.
Kings remained level-headed after losing wickets. When Nortje removed Rajapaksa, a potentially colossal strike, only Auguste’s lost wicket. Chase comfortably led St Lucia Kings to a five-wicket win, finishing with 21 balls left.
Johnson Charles and Faf du Plessis got them off to a strong start, and an outstanding 115-run partnership was enough to earn them victory by five wickets.
