PORT-OF-SPAIN – A blistering captain’s knock of 47 off 32 balls by Kieron Pollard helps Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) secure their first victory of the 2019 edition of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) at the Queen’s Park Oval on Wednesday.
The first game of the tournament saw St Kitts Nevis Patriots falling short by 11 runs.
TKR got off to a poor start, losing their first three wickets of Sunil Narine, Tion Webster and Lendl Simmons with only 20 runs on the board in the fourth over.
But Denesh Ramdin and Kiwi James Neesham consolidated with a partnership of 60 runs.
Pollard, the stand-in captain for the injured Dwayne Bravo, came in with the score on 80 for 4 and when he departed in the final over, caught Kjorn Ottley off the bowling of Rayad Emrit, it was enough to help his side reach 152 for 7.
The Patriots’ openers put on 47 before Ottley was the first to go caught and bowled by Neesham for 25. His opening partner Evin Lewis top scored with 36.
But then Patriots lost wickets at 70, 72, 74 and 76.
Neesham was adjudged Man of the Match for his 33 runs and three wickets for 18 runs in 2.4 overs. He bowled the last over conceding only one run and taking two wickets.
The Patriots were all out for 141 giving TKR victory by 11 runs.
