In the CPL 2024, Barbados Royals outplayed St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots to a nine-wicket loss at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Rahkeem Cornwall and Quinton de Kock led the Royals to victory, securing the top spot in the playoffs.
Barbados Royals had a strong bowling performance as Fast bowler Naveen-ul-Haq started with some control. Naveen did a good job with the new ball and took two of the most important wickets, Evin Lewis and Kyle Mayers.
From there, the Royals never allowed the Patriots to recover, as Rahkeem Cornwall stepped in with his devastating off-spin. Cornwall took the wickets of Andre Fletcher (32 off 22) and Mikyle Louis in consecutive deliveries, leading the Patriots to 49-4 in 7.2 overs. Fletcher had given the Patriots some hope with a few attacking shots, but Cornwall’s spin quickly put an end to that.
Barbados Royals Cornwall’s outstanding bowling in the middle overs made the Patriots collapse their batting lineup. In just 48 balls, they fell from a solid 38-2 to a disastrous 69-8. With his height allowing Cornwall to gain extra bounce from the pitch, plus a sharp turn on each ball he bowled left the Patriots stunned.
A strategic timeout called at 61-6 did little to stop the Royals’ relentless pressure. Obed McCoy took the wicket of Riley Rossouw, who was caught midway through by captain Rowman Powell.
Patriots batters Joshua Da Silva and Talender Enrich Nortje combined for a 39-run partnership for the ninth wicket. Their challenge put the Patriots up 69-8 and past 100, but the recovery was short-lived.
Royals Naveen-ul-Haq and Obed McCoy then knocked over the rest of the lineup in three balls, chasing out the Patriots for a target of 110 in 19.1 overs
St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots Nortje scored 22 off 17, and Da Silva added an unbeaten 25 off 29, but more was needed against Royals, which has a strong batting lineup.
Chasing a modest goal of 111, the Barbados Royals’ openers were given off to a flying begin, with Quinton de Kock and Kadeem Alleyne attacking the Patriots’ bowlers from the get-move. The duo completely benefited from the powerplay, scoring 57-0 in the first six overs. Alleyne, who hit two fours and a six, made a brisk 23 off 15 balls before falling to Wanindu Hasaranga.
Barbados Royals’ Alick Athanaze joined de Kock in consecutive partnerships. Athanaje’s brisk 56-run 22* included three boundaries. De Kock was once again outstanding and scored an unbeaten 38-ball 59* with four sixes and three boundaries. His remarkable performance led the Barbados Royals to win comfortably by nine wickets.
