BASSETERRE, St.Kitts (Friday 13th September 2019)-The home franchise team- the St.Kitts and Nevis Patriots- had an exciting historic win but unfortunately their winning ways did not did not roll over into game two during the first two home games of the CPL T20 league played at Warner Park Cricket Stadium on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.
In game one (10th September), in going up against the Jamaica Tallawahs, the Patriots chased down 241 runs- the highest run chase in CPL history which was also the highest team total in CPL history as well as the second highest successful run chase in all T20 cricket.
That game also had the most sixes in a T20 game with 37 in total. The crowd went wild with excitement each time as the Patriots created a wave of excitement creeping up on the Tallwahs nearing the end of the match.
Game two played the next day (Wednesday), saw Patriots versus the Barbados Tridents in an atmosphere of tamer encounter with failed batting by the Patriots.
In that match, Laurie Evans got the only stand out batsman status while Sandeep Lammchine who played for the Patriots last year got 3 wickets.
This week, this media house spoke exclusively with local cricket icon Victor Eddy –a former St.Kitts Leeward Islands and Combine Islands all-rounder and Vice-Captain of St. Kitts B Team tour to Zimbawe. He gave his take on CPL T20 this time around.
“For CPL 2019 how it’s going, it has been very impressive. The defending champions, the Trinidad and Tobago Knight Riders, they look very strong again competing and also too is the Guyana Amazon Warriors. Well, you cannot write off the Tallawahs, I believe also too so I believe between these three teams, two are going to be in the finals in my view but cricket as it is a game of glories and uncertainties; we can never tell with the amount of matches to go but looking at the strength of the Trinidad Knight Riders with three top sin bowlers in that squad and between three top spin bowlers, they can bowl 12 overs so if teams do not capitalize on those 12 overs, Trinidad Knight Riders is going to be very hard to defeat in this 2019 CPL tournament and that is my view which can all go contrary to what I’ve said because just remember cricket is the game of glories and uncertainties,” he commented.
Asked what he has to say about the St.Kitts and Nevis Patriots, Eddy replied: “The Patriots had an outstanding game against the Jamaica Tallawahs because in a 2020 to erase 241, it was not an easy task but it was well executed by the batsmen and as more so Devon Thomas and Evin Lewis whoopeed the innings; they gave a good foundation towards the start because they shot selection was very good and in their future matches, if their batting can have that same percentage of good judgement and shot selection, they also can do good. Well, all teams in the CPL would have a chance that is only my view because cricket is still a game of glories and uncertainties.”
The home games at Warner Park featuring the Patriots are slated for tomorrow (Saturday 14th September) with the Guyana Amazon Warriors, on Sunday with the St.Lucia Zouks and then on Tuesday 17th with the Trinbago Knight Riders.