Seifert and Charles Power St Lucia Kings to Commanding Win over Patriots

On the warm, breezy evening of August 28, 2025, the Daren Sammy National Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia, saw the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots taking on the St Lucia Kings in a must-win Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2025 clash. The Kings won the toss and chose to bowl first, likely hoping the early moisture would give their bowlers an edge. For the Patriots, stuck near the bottom of the table with just two wins from six games, this was a chance to spark their campaign back to life.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Innings

Out came Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher to open the batting, greeted by a roaring crowd ready for some T20 fireworks. Lewis, a left-hander with a reputation for destroying bowling attacks, started slowly, feeling his way against the new ball. Fletcher, though, was in no mood to wait. He tore into the Kings’ bowlers from the get-go, cracking boundaries with a swagger that got the fans on their feet. The pair put on 47 runs for the first wicket, a decent start that had the Patriots dreaming big.

Fletcher was the star, racing to 37 off just 23 balls, his innings packed with six crisp fours and a massive six that soared into the stands. His strike rate of 160.86 kept the Kings on their toes, but they weren’t about to roll over. In the 5.3rd over, Roston Chase struck a crucial blow. Lewis, trying to up the tempo after a cautious 18 off 18, lofted a shot that didn’t quite clear the infield and was snapped up by David Wiese at mid-off. The Patriots were 47 for 1, and the Kings had a foot in the door. Mohammad Rizwan, the cool-headed Pakistani star, strolled out to join Fletcher.

Known for his ability to anchor an innings, Rizwan started by playing second fiddle, letting Fletcher keep the scoreboard ticking with his aggressive strokes. But the Kings’ spinners, Tabraiz Shamsi and Khary Pierre, soon turned the screws. Shamsi’s wrist-spin was particularly tough to get away, and in the 8.1st over, he landed a big wicket. Fletcher, looking to clear the ropes again, mistimed a lofted shot and was caught by Johnson Charles at long-on, leaving the Patriots at 69 for 2. Fletcher’s 37 had been a game-changer, but his exit shifted the momentum, and Rizwan now had to take charge.

Enter Kyle Mayers, the Patriots’ all-rounder with a knack for big shots. He and Rizwan got to work, building a 71-run partnership that steadied the ship and kept the runs flowing. Mayers played with flair, scoring 27 off 25 balls, including a boundary and two towering sixes that had the crowd roaring. His strike rate of 108.00 was solid, while Rizwan started to find his groove, picking gaps with clever wristwork and the occasional aerial drive.

The pair kept the Kings’ bowlers guessing, rotating the strike and punishing anything loose. But Shamsi wasn’t done. In the 16.5th over, he struck again, tempting Mayers into a big shot that was caught by Wiese. The Patriots were 140 for 3, and with the death overs looming, they needed a strong finish. Shamsi’s spell was pure class, finishing with 2 for 17 in four overs at a stingy economy of 4.25.

Patriots captain Jason Holder joined Rizwan for the final push. Rizwan, now in full flow, played a gem of an innings, finishing unbeaten on 60 off 41 balls. His knock was a masterclass, blending three fours and four sixes with a strike rate of 146.34. He found gaps with ease and cleared the boundary when it mattered, keeping the Patriots’ momentum alive. Holder chipped in with an unbeaten 21 off 14 balls, including two sixes that sailed into the stands. The Kings’ bowlers, especially Keon Gaston and Oshane Thomas, struggled to keep things tight.

Gaston’s three overs went for a whopping 49 runs, an economy of 16.33, while Thomas’ single over cost 22 runs, with four wides adding to the damage. Khary Pierre was the pick of the bowlers, conceding just 21 runs in his four overs, while Chase’s 1 for 30 kept things under control. Wiese, though wicketless, bowled tidily at times, finishing with 0 for 37. The Patriots wrapped up at 177 for 3 after 20 overs, helped by 14 extras (one leg-bye, one no-ball, and 12 wides). Rizwan’s 60 not out was the heart of the innings, backed by Fletcher’s fiery 37 and Mayers’ steady 27. It was a solid total, but with a few missed chances in the death overs and three wickets down, the Kings still had a shot at chasing 178.

St Lucia Kings Innings

The St Lucia Kings walked out to chase 178 with a spring in their step, sitting third in the CPL 2025 standings with three wins from five games. The Kings’ innings kicked off like a rocket. Openers Tim Seifert and Johnson Charles came out swinging, with Charles in particular looking like a man possessed. He tore into the Patriots’ bowlers, smashing five fours and four sixes in a jaw-dropping 47 off just 17 balls, racing to a strike rate of 276.47.

The Kings blasted to 50 runs in just 4.3 overs, with Charles stealing the show. Seifert played a calmer role, anchoring the innings while Charles went berserk. The pair put on 85 runs for the first wicket, setting the chase up perfectly. The Patriots needed a breakthrough, and Waqar Salamkheil delivered in the 6.5th over. Charles, going for another big shot, was caught by Mohammad Rizwan, ending his whirlwind knock and leaving the Kings at 85 for 1.

Ackeem Auguste joined Seifert, and the pair kept the pressure on. Seifert, now hitting his stride, reached his fifty off 35 balls, mixing caution with aggression. His 68 off 45 balls, packed with six fours and four sixes, was a T20 batting clinic, finishing with a strike rate of 151.11. Auguste played his part with a brisk 29 off 20 balls, including four fours and a six, at a strike rate of 145.00. Their 60-run stand for the second wicket took the Kings to 145 in 12.5 overs, well ahead of the required rate. Naseem Shah, the Patriots’ star pacer, finally broke through, getting Auguste caught by Jyd Goolie. Shah struck again in the 14.4th over, bowling Seifert for 68, leaving the Kings at 155 for 3. Shah’s 2 for 35 in four overs was the best of the Patriots’ bowling efforts.

With just 23 runs needed off the last 33 balls, Roston Chase and Tim David took the reins. Chase, unbeaten on 15 off 9 balls with two fours, played with calm assurance, while David, unbeaten on 16 off 11 balls with a four and a six, made sure there were no jitters. The Kings cruised to 180 for 3 in 17 overs, sealing a seven-wicket win with 18 balls to spare. Their run rate of 10.58 showed their dominance, with the Patriots conceding just five extras (two leg-byes and three wides).

The Patriots’ bowlers struggled to contain the Kings’ onslaught. Kyle Mayers leaked 23 runs in two overs, while Navin Bidaisee’s two overs went for 34 runs at a costly 17.00 economy. Jason Holder bowled well, giving away 25 runs in three overs, but couldn’t find a wicket. Waqar Salamkheil took one wicket, but it was expensive, conceding 39 runs in four overs. Abbas Afridi and Jyd Goolie were ineffective, leaking 13 and 9 runs in their single overs. The Kings’ batsmen feasted on anything loose, with Charles’ explosive start and Seifert’s steady fifty setting the tone.

The Kings’ chase was a masterclass in T20 batting. Charles’ blistering knock took the pressure off early, while Seifert’s measured innings kept things on track. Auguste’s quick cameo and the unbeaten stand between Chase and David wrapped things up.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Mohammad Rizwan was the soul of the Patriots’ innings, earning the TCNI Magic Moment for his unbeaten 60 off 41 balls. With a strike rate of 146.34, his knock was a blend of grit and flair, featuring three fours and four sixes. Coming in at 47 for 1 after Evin Lewis’ exit, Rizwan held the innings together, forging a 71-run stand with Kyle Mayers (27 off 25).

Despite Andre Fletcher’s fiery 37 off 23, it was Rizwan’s cool-headed batting, alongside Jason Holder’s unbeaten 21 off 14, that got the Patriots to 177 for 3. Facing tight bowling from Tabraiz Shamsi (2 for 17) and Khary Pierre (0 for 21), Rizwan’s ability to pick gaps and hit big when it counted made his innings the game’s defining moment.

TCNi’s Hero of the Day

Tim Seifert was the star for the St Lucia Kings, earning the TCNi Hero of the Day for his match-winning 68 off 45 balls. Striking at 151.11, his innings, packed with six fours and four sixes, was a perfect mix of poise and power. After Johnson Charles’ explosive 47 off 17 balls lit up the chase, Seifert took charge, building a 60-run stand with Ackeem Auguste (29 off 20).

Though he fell to Naseem Shah in the 14th over, his knock put the Kings in the driver’s seat. Roston Chase (15* off 9) and Tim David (16* off 11) finished the job, reaching 180 for 3 in 17 overs. Seifert’s composed yet aggressive batting was the heart of the Kings’ seven-wicket win, making him the match’s standout.