CPL 2025, Match 8 Review: Holder masterminds Patriots win

Game eight of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) saw another close and hard fought contest between St Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Barbados Royals. 

Chasing the Patriots total of 174/8 the Royals managed to get within touching distance but when Jason Holder pinned Jomel Warrican lbw with the second ball of the nineteenth over it consigned the Royals to their second defeat in two games.

The 12 run victory sees the Patriots move to second position in the table albeit they have played five matches to get their two wins. Royals captain Rovman Powell won the toss and elected to chase at Warner Park Stadium, Ramon Simmonds was the pick of the Royals bowlers as the left arm quick claimed 3/26 from his four over burst that included an impressive 11 dot balls and conceding just three boundaries.

The telling contributions with the bat for Patriots came from the engine room of Kyle Mayers (42) and captain Holder, the latter scooped the player of the match gong for his 38 off 21 deliveries with the bat and a scintillating 4/14 with the ball.

The Royals were well set in their chase at 92/3 off ten overs but they fell away in the second half of their innings, failing to build significant partnerships and ultimately being blown away by Holder taking two wickets with consecutive balls twice in their innings.

After failing to bowl sides out in previous CPL tournaments – the Patriots went fifty innings without taking all ten wickets - Holder’s side have now managed it twice in this year’s tournament already and have given their chances of making it to the latter stages a shot in the arm in the process.

Powell’s Royal's meanwhile have plenty to ponder as they still look for their first win of the 2025 competition.