Hasan Ali takes a blinder to send Colin Munro back to the pavilion

Trinbago Knight Riders orchestrated a stunning victory against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in a befitting match, the top-of-the table clash. St Kitts were asked to bat first on a wicket which didn’t offer much to the bowlers. Knight Riders did well to restrict the opposition for 158 runs as the pitch got seemingly slower as the game progressed. It was never going to be an easy task for TKR as the opposition possessed a lethal bowling line-up.

To get this off, for the Knight Riders in walked a reliable opening pair of Brendon McCullum and Sunil Narine who couldn’t produce a start their team wanted as Narine got out after being too early into his shot as he attempted a compulsive slog which nicked the toe-end of the bat to the mid-off fielder.

With ball sticking in the pitch, batsmen were finding it difficult to score runs as TKR lost three wickets under seven overs for just 42 runs, each of them getting out attempting an extravagant stroke. It was only when Dinesh Ramdin joined Colin Munro at the crease that they got some relief and they were back in action. Munro played a decent inning as he struck 36 runs off 30 balls which was laced with 4 boundaries before he got out.

The New Zealander attempted the switch hit but all he managed was a top edge. The ball floated around covers, there were three fielders in the region- extra cover, cover point and the sweeper. At one point it looked like the ball would beat them all and drop in no man’s land but Hasan Ali, the cover point fielder was determined to not let the chance go, he dived to his left, stretched out completely and got both hands on the ball to grab it; certainly one of the better catches we have seen this season.

Watch the video here

After the end of the 15th over, TKR lost half their side and the responsibility was now on veteran wicketkeeper-batsman, Dinesh Ramdin and he decided to counterattack which fortunately resulted in clean striking. He played through his strength which eventually helped him to rampant 59 runs off 35 balls and sealed the victory with three balls to spare.

In the end, it was a fantastic game of cricket which went all down to the wire, but one would have to say, TKR had too much firepower and managed to upstage SNP by four wickets.