CPL 2017, Match 29, BT vs TKR, Review: Tridents survive elimination threat by beating Knight Riders in a low scorer

Match 29 of the Caribbean Premier league saw all the ups and downs of the game and somehow Tridents have managed to stay alive in the tournament. Barbados Tridents beat the table toppers Trinbago Knight Riders by 16 runs in a low scoring encounter. After Warriors’ huge win last night it was evident that Tridents needed to win big in their remaining two games to qualify for the playoffs. However, they ticked the first box by winning but couldn’t kill the game to tick the second one.

The visiting side won the toss and opted to field first at Kensington oval. Tridents replaced Imran Khan with Shamar Springer as Knight Riders brought back their ace bowler Shadab Khan ahead of the playoffs.

The home side opened with the last match centurion Dwayne Smith and Nicholas Pooran only to lose the former off the second ball of the match. Soon Williamson followed the suit as Tridents were reduced to 7/2 in second over. Pooran tried to up the ante but was unable to do so as they kept losing wickets. The procession continued as they were staring at an early exit from the tournament at 62/7 in the 10th over.

Rescue operation from Wayne Parnell

When the prospects of Barbados looked bleak, their lower order stood up as Parnell and Shamar Springer started consolidating the innings. They added 48 runs for the eighth wicket at run a ball and made sure they have a competitive total to bowl at. Parnell continued even as Springer was dismissed in the 18th over. Few lusty blows in the last couple overs from the left hander gave Tridents something to bowl at as they finished on 136/9 after 20 overs.

Wayne Parnell remained unbeaten on 44 off 35 deliveries with 3 fours and a six. Knight Riders were excellent with the ball as Shadab Khan was the pick of the bowlers. He spun his web on a slow wicket and scalped Kieron Pollard and Christopher Barnwell. Sunil Narine was economical too as others chipped in with wickets.

The Chase

Narine and the skipper Brendon McCullum walked out to chase the modest total. But Parnell continued his wonderful day rocking them with the wickets of Narine and Munro. Soon McCullum was retired hurt in the sixth when he was hit on the elbow by a nasty delivery from the same bowler. Then Pollard led side took the control as Knight Riders looked down and out at 85/7 in the 15th over.

The visitors gave them a scare as Javon Searles threatened to take the game away. He scored 19 runs off Parnell in the 17th over to bring down the equation to 26 off 18 balls. But were bowled out in the 19th over only to fall short by 16 runs as Wahab Riaz kept his nerves to dismiss Searles.

The quartet of Parnell, Riaz, Pollard and Ravi Rampaul made sure the Tridents prevailed for the day. They were excellent as they never let the batsmen off the hook. Knight Riders missed the in form skipper who was retired hurt for 26 off 19 deliveries and he didn’t bat again. Searles scored 29 in the end to fight a lone battle.

Tridents had to win and win big to stay in the competition but they didn’t have that sort of total on the board. But it was important that they win and take it to the last game and they did it successfully. They face St. Kitts Nevis and Patriots in the last game now and need a minor miracle to boost their net run rate past the Warriors to qualify for the playoffs.

Brief Scores:

Barbados Tridents: 136/9 in 20 overs (W Parnell 44* (35b, 3×4, 1×6); Shadab Khan (2/13), Dwayne Bravo (1/30))

Trinbago Knight Riders: 120/8 in 18.2 overs (J Searles 29 (21b, 3×4, 1×6); B McCullum 26 (19b, 3×4, 1×6); Wayne Parnell (3/31), Kieron Pollard (2/26))