Pierre masterclass leaves Falcons in a spin

GROS ISLET, St Lucia (CMC):

THE ANTIGUA and Barbuda Falcons continued their horrid debut in the Caribbean Premier League, going down by 26 runs to the St Lucia Kings at the Daren Sammy National Stadium on Sunday.

After winning the toss and electing to field, the Falcons’ duo of off-spinner Chris Green and medium pacer Shamar Springer combined to limit the Kings to 152 for eight from their 20 overs.

However, the Falcons then delivered a lacklustre batting performance that saw them score just 126 for eight in their allotted 20 overs, with spinner Khary Pierre wrecking the visitors’ top order.

It was the Falcons’ sixth loss in eight games and left them languishing in fifth place on four points, above only the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, who have two points.

On the other hand, the win propelled the Kings to second place in the standings, trailing the Barbados Royals by only net run rate, with both teams on eight points.

The Kings’ opening pair of Johnson Charles and captain Faf du Plessis gave their side a solid start during a 40-run partnership in five overs.

Springer struck first when he had Charles caught behind for 25 from 20 balls, and two runs later Roshon Primus held a brilliant catch, leaping to his left at extra cover to account for du Plessis (14) off the bowling of Green.

And off the very next ball, Green got Roston Chase to sky a delivery to long on to reduce the Kings to 42 for three in the sixth over.

Ackeem Auguste (35) and Tim Seifert stabilised the innings in adding 42 for the fourth wicket before Green struck again to dismiss the latter for 13.

The Kings were in trouble of collapsing at 87 for five in the 13th over after Kofi James dismissed Bhanuka Rajapaksa for only one run.

Weise to the rescue

However, David Weise scored an unbeaten 43 from 26 balls with four sixes and one four to help the Kings post a respectable total.

He ended the innings in fine style, smashing fast bowler Kelvin Pitman for three sixes in the final over that cost 20.

Green ended with 4-22 from his four overs for the Falcons, while Springer took 3-19 from three overs.

Chasing a reachable target, the Falcons were left in ruins by left-arm spinner Pierre, who was adjudged Player of the Match.

Kofi James struck one six and one four in his 11 runs from seven balls, before Pierre got him to edge a delivery that turned away from him behind to the wicketkeeper.

Pierre then enticed Sam Billings into a pull shot, which he hit straight into the hands of Seifert at short midwicket, and with his next ball he produced a ripper which Jahmar Hamilton could only edge behind to the keeper to leave the Falcons in trouble at 24 for three.

Things got even worse for the Falcons when Justin Greaves was bowled by Noor Ahmad for 10 and Imad Wasim was dismissed for a duck by Chase, to see them slump to 28 for five.

Bowling heroes Springer and Green tried to consolidate in a sixth-wicket partnership of 60, but once Springer was run out in the 16th over for 23, any chances of a spectacular come-from-behind victory evaporated.

Green tops-cored for the Falcons with 48 from 37 balls.

Pierre finished with 3-24 from his four overs and Ahmad supported with 2-13.