Colin Munro’s Century Guides Trinbago to 12-Run CPL Win Over Patriots

The Caribbean Premier League showdown between the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on 17th August 2025 proved to be an amazing one for the fans. TKR, put in to bat after losing the toss, unleashed a batting spectacle that left the Patriots reeling. By the end of their 20 overs, TKR had piled on a colossal 231/5, a total driven by Colin Munro’s dazzling century, bolstered by fiery contributions from Alex Hales, and sealed with late flourishes from Keacy Carty and others.

Trinbago Knight Riders Innings

From the moment Colin Munro and Alex Hales strode to the crease, TKR signaled their intent to dominate. Munro, back in the TKR lineup after a brief absence, was a man possessed, his bat an extension of his will as he tore into the Patriots’ attack. His fifty came in a mere 21 balls, a blistering knock punctuated by seven crisp fours and two towering sixes that sailed into the stands. The Warner Park crowd erupted with every boundary, their cheers echoing as Munro carved through the field with precision and punished anything loose. Hales, meanwhile, played the perfect partner, his 47 off 27 balls a mix of elegance and aggression, with four fours and three sixes that lit up the evening sky.

Together, they forged a 114-run opening stand in just 9.1 overs, a partnership that was as ruthless as it was exhilarating. The powerplay was a nightmare for the Patriots’ bowlers, with TKR racing to 77/0 in six overs, maintaining a run rate north of 10. The duo’s chemistry was electric, quick singles stolen with a glance, boundaries struck with disdain, and sixes launched with audacious flair. They brought up 50 runs in just 24 balls, and the hundred came in 47, a relentless assault that left the Patriots’ fielders chasing shadows.

Fazalhaq Farooqi and Naseem Shah, the Patriots’ pace spearheads, bore the brunt of the onslaught, leaking 41 and 40 runs respectively without a wicket to show for it. The bowlers’ shoulders slumped as Munro and Hales kept the scoreboard ticking like a metronome, their partnership a masterclass in T20 batting. The breakthrough finally came in the 9th over when Waqar Salamkheil, the Patriots’ leg-spinner, tempted Hales into a lofted shot, caught by Jyd Goolie for 47.

The crowd fell briefly silent, but Munro was unfazed, his focus unshaken as he continued to dominate. His century, reached off 50 balls, became the Moment of the Game. The Warner Park rose to their feet as Munro raised his bat, his 120 off 57 balls the cornerstone of TKR’s innings. His performance earned him the Player of the Match award, with an impact score of 126.74 points, a testament to his ability to single-handedly shift the game’s momentum. With Hales gone, TKR captain Nicholas Pooran walked in, but the usually explosive left-hander struggled to find his groove, managing just 13 off 11 balls before holing out to Jason Holder off Salamkheil.

At 151/2 in 13.2 overs, TKR were in a commanding position, but the momentum could have wavered. Enter Kieron Pollard, the big-hitting veteran, who wasted no time, smashing 19 off 13 balls with two fours and a six that had the crowd buzzing. Dominic Drakes finally got him clean bowled, but Munro kept the runs flowing, his presence at the crease a constant threat. Munro’s dismissal in the 18th over, caught by Rilee Rossouw off Holder for 120, was a blow, but TKR were already at 213/4. Terrance Hinds added a quick 4 off 3 balls before falling, while Keacy Carty, unbeaten on 16 off 8 balls, provided the finishing touch with a flurry of boundaries.

Akeal Hosein’s single off the final ball capped the innings at 231/5, a total that felt like a mountain for the Patriots to climb. The Patriots’ bowlers, led by Holder and Salamkheil with two wickets apiece, fought hard but were outclassed. Holder’s economy of 10.00 and Salamkheil’s 11.75 told the story of a bowling unit under siege, and Drakes, with one wicket, conceded 44 runs in his four overs, while 11 extras, including eight leg byes and three wides, added to the Patriots’ woes.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Innings

Chasing 232 was always going to be a daunting task, but the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots threw everything into their pursuit, falling just 12 runs short at 219/7 in their 20 overs. Kyle Mayers, Andre Fletcher, Rilee Rossouw, and Jason Holder played with heart, but TKR’s bowling, led by Usman Tariq’s devastating 4/33, proved too much to overcome. The Patriots’ chase began with fireworks, as openers Mayers and Fletcher tore into TKR’s bowlers. They raced to 50 in 29 balls, with Mayers’ 32 off 22 balls (five fours, one six) a blend of power and finesse, and Fletcher’s 41 off 26 balls (six fours, one six) a more measured but equally effective knock.

The powerplay yielded 65 runs, boosted by seven extras, and their 80-run stand in 7.3 overs had the Patriots dreaming of an upset. The Warner Park crowd roared with every boundary, sensing a historic chase was on the cards. But TKR’s bowlers had other plans. Usman Tariq, the game’s pivotal figure, struck in the 8th over, removing Mayers, caught by Keacy Carty. Akeal Hosein followed, bowling Fletcher in the next over, leaving the Patriots at 82/2 in 8.1 overs. The pressure mounted as Mikyle Louis fell for 7 off 6, stumped by Pooran off Tariq, and at 95/3 after 10 overs, the chase was teetering.

Rossouw and Holder provided a lifeline, their 50-run stand in 27 balls a burst of aggression. Rossouw’s 38 off 24 balls, with four and four sixes, was a reminder of his class, while Holder’s contribution kept the scoreboard moving. The pair took the score to 150 in 14.5 overs, but Tariq struck again, dismissing Rossouw and Jyd Goolie (0 off 2) in quick succession. Alick Athanaze’s 1 off 2 balls ended with a catch to Alex Hales off Sunil Narine, leaving the Patriots at 152/5 and staring down the barrel.

With 67 runs needed off the last four overs, Holder unleashed a barrage, his 44 off 22 balls (three fours, three sixes) a captain’s knock. Dominic Drakes (20* off 12) and Naseem Shah (17* off 5, with a four and two sixes) kept the fight alive, pushing the Patriots past 200 in 19.2 overs. But 219/7 was as close as they got, with 19 extras (11 wides, seven leg byes) not enough to bridge the gap.

Tariq’s 4/33 was the difference. His wickets of Mayers, Rossouw, Louis, and Goolie broke the Patriots’ spine. Hosein was miserly, conceding 25 runs in four overs while taking Fletcher’s wicket. Narine (1/32) and Mohammad Amir (1/51) chipped in, though Amir was expensive. Terrance Hinds (0/53 in 3.2 overs) and Munro struggled in the death, but Tariq’s heroics held firm. The Patriots’ run rate of 10.95 was valiant, but the loss of wickets in the middle overs sealed their fate.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Colin Munro’s scintillating century was the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game, a 120-run masterpiece off 57 balls that set Warner Park alight. With a strike rate of 210.52, Munro’s 14 fours and six sixes were a symphony of destruction, dismantling the Patriots’ bowlers.

When Munro goes big, he takes the prize.

Player of the Match with 120(57)! 🏏 #CPL25 #BiggestPartyInSport #CricketPlayedLouder #SKNPvTKR pic.twitter.com/RBqvv0TAI9

— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 17, 2025

His 114-run stand with Alex Hales (47 off 27) set the tone for TKR’s 231/5, with the crowd roaring as Munro reached his hundred in 50 balls. Despite wickets falling as Pooran (13), Pollard (19), Munro’s dominance until the 18th over, when he fell to Holder, was the defining moment of TKR’s innings.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Usman Tariq was the TCNI Hero of the Day, his 4/33 in four overs a match-defining spell. Facing a Patriots’ onslaught led by Holder (44 off 22) and Fletcher (41 off 26), Tariq’s wickets of Mayers (32), Rossouw (38), Louis (7), and Goolie (0) were game-changers.

Tariq on target: 4/33 🎯🔥 #CPL25 #BiggestPartyInSport #CricketPlayedLouder #SKNPvTKR #Betexc pic.twitter.com/BCSX7lR7Nk

— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 17, 2025

His 14 dot balls and 8.25 economy in a high-scoring game (219/7) showcased his control, ensuring TKR’s victory despite the Patriots’ 13 fours and 13 sixes and hence giving them a big win.