Barbados bounce back in style as Tridents crush Kings to end losing run

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – The Barbados Tridents roared back to form at the Kensington Oval on Sunday night, snapping a four-game losing streak with a resounding eight-wicket victory over the Saint Lucia Kings in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The comprehensive win, which marks the Tridents’ third of the season and their second conquest of the Kings this year, was set up by a disciplined bowling unit before Quinton de Kock and Rivaldo Clarke orchestrated a composed chase to delight the home faithful.

After being put in to bat, the Kings looked intent on erasing the memory of their recent 98-run debacle, riding a flying PowerPlay performance from Kamil Pooran to race to 51 for 1 after six overs.

However, the momentum came crashing down when the wily Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck, dismissing the dangerous Pooran for 37, just six balls later.

That breakthrough triggered a stranglehold for the Tridents. Mujeeb and Jakeem Pollard turned the screws on the Kings’ middle order, drying up the boundaries and stifling the run rate.

Roston Chase attempted to reignite the innings following Pooran’s departure with a defiant 34, but the Barbados bowlers maintained their vice-like grip.

Mujeeb ended as the pick of the attack with outstanding figures of 3 for 22 from his four overs, while Daniel Sams demonstrated his class with a miserly spell of 2 for 20.

The Kings’ death-overs woes continued as they mustered just 29 runs while losing three wickets in the final five overs, limping to a modest total of 138 for 6 at the halfway mark.

In reply, the Tridents’ chase got off to a flying start. Openers Brandon King and Zachary Carter put on a brisk 41-run stand to keep the required rate well within reach.

Roston Chase provided the breakthrough for Saint Lucia by removing King for 22, and soon after, home town boy Joshua Bishop dismissed Carter, who had played a handy cameo of 32.

That brought Rivaldo Clarke to the crease alongside the experienced Quinton de Kock, and the duo initially showed caution as the Kings’ bowlers, spearheaded by Bishop and Charith Asalanka, attempted to replicate the Tridents’ earlier defensive tactics.

Despite a few anxious moments, including a couple of chances that fell short of the fielders, de Kock (47*) and Clarke (36*) held their nerve.

The pair paced the innings to perfection, slowly turning the screws back on the visitors. Their unbroken 76-run partnership ensured the Tridents cruised to victory at 139-2 with 13 balls to spare.

The Tridents will look to build on this momentum when they continue their homestand against the Patriots on Thursday. Meanwhile, the Kings must quickly regroup for their final group-stage fixture against the Warriors on Wednesday.

CMC

Summarised scores

ST LUCIA KINGS 138-6 in 20 overs (Kamil Pooran 37, Roston Chase 34, John Campbell 24, Charith Asalanka 12; Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3-22, Daniel Sams 2-20).

BARBADOS TRIDENTS 139-2 in 17.5 overs (Quinton de Kock 47 not out, Rivaldo Clarke 36 not out, Zachary Carter 32, Brandon King 22).

Barbados Tridents won by eight wickets.