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Nu-Iron Queen’s Park Cricket Club (QPCC) I capped a dominant domestic season by completing the double on Saturday night, lifting the T&T Cricket Board/Trinbago Knight Riders (TTCB/TKR) Trinidad T20 Festival crown at Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair, Port-of-Spain, to add to the Premier Division League title they secured earlier this year.
In front of an appreciative crowd under the lights, the Parkites produced a virtuoso batting performance and a disciplined bowling follow-through to overpower Bess Motors Marchin Patriots by 51 runs in a contest that underlined Queen’s Park’s depth and finishing power.
Sent in after losing the toss, QPCC set about building a total of imposing T20 proportions from the first ball. The innings was defined by an explosive opening stand between Kadeem Alleyne and Andre Fletcher that took the contest beyond the Patriots before the halfway mark.
Alleyne delivered a breathtaking display of power and timing, finishing with a tournament-defining 116 from just 53 deliveries. His innings was studded with 11 fours and nine sixes. Alleyne’s strike rate soared past 200 as he punished anything short or loose, turning the Pavilion end into a boundary line.
Fletcher, the veteran opener, played the perfect foil to Alleyne’s fireworks. The former West Indies international shepherded the innings with measured aggression, his 49 providing the stability and rotation of strike that allowed Alleyne to play with freedom. The pair combined for a mammoth 179-run opening partnership that effectively put the game out of reach for the Patriots.
After the top order had done the damage, QPCC’s lower middle-order polished off the innings with useful cameos that ensured the scoreboard read a daunting 245 for 4 at the close of 20 overs. Tion Webster contributed a brisk 19, Terrence Hinds finished unbeaten on 23, and Mikkel Govia’s late-order 12 not out added further impetus.
The Patriots’ bowling attack managed sparse success amid the carnage. Kashtri Singh struck twice, finishing with 2-35, and Barbadian all-rounder Raymon Reifer chipped in with 2-48. But for much of the innings, the bowlers were left picking up the pieces as Queen’s Park’s hitters punished anything slightly off-line.
Chasing 246, Marchin Patriots required a near-faultless start. Instead, the chase suffered an immediate blow when Kamil Pooran–the Patriots’ marquee opener, recently selected for the Caribbean Premier League (CPL)–was castled first ball by Terrence Hinds. The golden duck set the tone for a run chase that would always be under pressure. Kirstan Kallicharan and captain Adrian Ali led the response with battling knocks; Kallicharan’s 43 kept the Patriots in the hunt during the middle overs, while Ali anchored the middle order with a valuable 61, attempting to stitch partnerships and keep the required rate manageable.
Yet, Queen’s Park’s bowlers rode the momentum generated by their batters. Govia led the attack with economical precision and strike-taking ability, finishing with 2-21, while Kadeem Alleyne reinforced his all-round credentials by snaring 2-25. Tight lines in the death overs and smart fielding ensured the Patriots could not recover the momentum needed to overhaul the target. Regular wickets and a mounting required run rate saw Marchin Patriots close on 194 for 7–51 runs shy of the total.
The victory not only cemented Queen’s Park’s status as the dominant domestic side this season but also showcased the balance in their squad: explosive top-order hitting, middle-order resilience, and a bowling unit that can defend imposing totals. Alleyne’s 116 was the headline–a performance that earned him the “Player of the Match” accolade.
For the Patriots, their season remains notable. They had already claimed the 50-over crown earlier in the campaign, and their consistent presence across formats speaks to a well-constructed squad. Powergen, meanwhile, leave the season with midweek 30-over silverware to their name.
Player-coach and captain, former West Indies standout Darren Bravo, noted the collective determination to win the tournament.
“Before the start of the tournament, we identified the fact that we had to defend the title,” Bravo said. “I thought we were basically clinical in every part of our game, except for one or two games. I thought we were professional all throughout the tournament and we deserve to win.”
Bravo was elevated to the head coach role, replacing David Furlonge, who is now the manager of the team. The former Test standout is thoroughly enjoying his new role as player-coach.
“The guys would have given me a lot of respect; they trust my experience with international cricket. It wasn’t all about Darren Bravo; it was a total team effort.
Patriots captain, Adrian Ali, noted how crucial losing Kamil Pooran was so early in the innings, especially since Evin Lewis was injured out of the match.
“He (Kadeem Alleyne) played well, hats off to him with the start he gave them (Queen’s Park). That sort of put on the back foot”, Ali remarked.
“I thought that Kamil Pooran has the same capabilities, but when he was out, that kind of changed the game.”
Summarised Scores
QPCC I 245/4 (20 overs) (Kadeem Alleyne 116; Andre Fletcher 49; Kashtri Singh 2-35; Raymon Reifer 2-48) vs Bess Motors Marchin Patriots: 194 /7 (20 overs) (Adrian Ali 61; Kirstan Kallicharan 43; Mikkel Govia 2-21, Kadeem Alleyne 2-25). QPCC I won by 51 runs.
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