Rizwan’s lone fight in vain as Kings surge to CPL summit

WEB DESK: Mohammad Rizwan’s fighting half-century was not enough to prevent another setback for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, as St Lucia Kings cruised to a seven-wicket win that lifted them to the top of the CPL 2025 table. Rizwan remained unbeaten on 60 off 41 balls, holding the Patriots’ innings together, but his side’s 177 for 3 proved well short once the Kings’ openers got going in Gros Islet.

Asked to bat first, the Patriots began briskly with Andre Fletcher striking 37 in the powerplay, but Tabraiz Shamsi’s guile stalled their momentum. The left-arm wrist-spinner dismissed Fletcher and later Kyle Mayers to finish with 2 for 17, celebrating both strikes with his trademark shoe-phone routine. Rizwan, coming in at No. 3, carried the innings with authority, stitching a 71-run stand with Mayers (27) and an unbroken 37-run partnership with Jason Holder (21*). Yet, while Rizwan anchored smartly, the Patriots’ innings lacked the acceleration needed on a surface that offered plenty of runs.

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The Kings made light work of the chase, powered by a blazing 115-run opening stand in just 62 balls. Johnson Charles bludgeoned 47 off 17 balls before falling in the seventh over, while Tim Seifert anchored the innings with a measured yet fluent 68 from 45. Their assault left the Kings needing just 63 from the final ten overs, and even after Seifert’s dismissal, the finishing touches were calmly applied by Roston Chase (15*) and Tim David (16*), who wrapped up the game with three overs to spare.

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The win carried St Lucia Kings to No. 1 on the table with eight points from six games. The Patriots, despite Rizwan’s lone resistance, slipped to fifth, with only four points from seven matches and plenty to fix if they are to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Knight Riders break Falcons jinx with eight-wicket win

Mohammad Amir and Keacy Carty were the standout performers as Trinbago Knight Riders finally ended their losing run against Antigua and Barbuda Falcons with a comprehensive eight-wicket victory in Tarouba on Wednesday night.

Bowling first after Nicholas Pooran won the toss, Knight Riders struck immediately through Amir, who trapped Rahkeem Cornwall and Karima Gore lbw in the opening over. Amir finished with 3 for 22, while Andre Russell (2 for 23) and Akeal Hosein (2 for 25) piled on the pressure, reducing Falcons to 71 for 6. Falcons’ best resistance came from Jewel Andrew (40), before a stunning boundary catch from McKenny Clarke cut him short. Late fightbacks from captain Imad Wasim (37*) and Usama Mir (34) lifted them to 146 for 7.

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Knight Riders’ chase was anchored by an 87-run second-wicket stand between Alex Hales and Carty. Though the partnership consumed 73 balls, it ensured stability. Carty played fluently for 60 off 45, while Hales accelerated after a slow start to finish unbeaten on 55. Pooran added the finishing flourish with 23 off 11, sealing victory with a towering six and eight balls to spare.

The win broke Knight Riders’ three-match jinx against Falcons and propelled them to second on the CPL 2025 points table, just behind their opponents.