Russell’s Fireworks and David’s steady hand lead TKR to thrilling victory

In a pulsating contest at Queen’s Park Oval, Andre Russell’s explosive 36 not out from 15 balls, paired with a calm, unbeaten 31 off 24 from Tim David, powered the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) to a thrilling five-wicket win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the 19th match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Wednesday night on Tragarete Road, Port-of-Spain.

Chasing a competitive target of 149 on a challenging surface, TKR stumbled to 89-5 and needed 60 runs from the final 30 balls to secure the victory.

With their backs against the wall, Russell, making his comeback from injury, joined David at the crease. While David struggled to find a rhythm, Russell wasted no time, unleashing a barrage of boundaries.

Player of the Match Russell was given a lifeline on nought when he was put down by Junior Sinclair at deep backward square leg.

The Jamaican then took full advantage of the opportunity, dismantling Nathan Sowter’s over with three massive sixes to bring TKR back into the chase.

Despite some crafty bowling from the Warriors, including an impressive penultimate over by Dwaine Pretorius, TKR needed 12 off the final over.

David, who struggled with timing throughout his innings, found his range when it mattered most, smashing back-to-back sixes off the first two balls of the final over to seal the win for TKR with four deliveries to spare.

Earlier, the Warriors also struggled after a promising start, crumbling from 32-2 to 76-7 as TKR’s spin trio wreaked havoc. Tim Robinson’s 34 off 28 gave the Warriors a platform, but Waqar Salamkheil (2-19), Sunil Narine (2-24), and Akeal Hosein (1-20) engineered a collapse, leaving the Warriors reeling.

A stunning rescue effort from Romario Shepherd 51 not out off 24 balls and Pretorius 21 not out off 25, lifted their side to a respectable 148-7 in their 20 overs.

The 17th over proved the crucial one for the Knight Riders as Player of the Match. Andre Russell smeared three sixes off the bowling of Nathan Sowter in order to haul down the target and allow David to finish the job at the last.

“The mindset was that I know I can hit sixes and that Tim David is a six-hitter as well. I told him that we had 24 balls, and we had to hit eight sixes.”

An emotional Russell also paid tribute to Dwayne Bravo in the moments after the match.

“Who I am today has a lot to do with him. I am just happy to be part of this game. That’s why it was an emotional celebration; he deserved that win… I think he’ll shed a tear tonight. This one is for DJ Bravo.”

The game was played in an intense but sporting spirit and was a high-class affair, with both teams looking to secure their qualification for the latter stages of the competition. The victory sees the Knight Riders well placed on eight points from five games, a fairytale end for Dwayne Bravo in the CPL still on the cards.

It was the Warriors second defeat in back-to-back matches. On Sunday, Quinton de Kock scored the second century of this year’s CPL, which helped the Barbados Royals record a comfortable 32-run win over the Guyana Amazon Warriors at Kensington Oval in Barbados on Saturday.

Batting at the top of the order, the South African smashed 115 runs from 68 balls and was the mainstay of the Royals’ mammoth 205 for six from their 20 overs.

In reply, the Amazon Warriors never seriously threatened their target and eventually ended on 173 for five from the allotted overs. (CMC)

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