St Lucia Kings Dominate Trinbago for Comfortable 7 Wicket Victory

The Trinbago Knight Riders’ batting lineup, typically a powerhouse in CPL 2025, faced a big test as they took to the crease under the floodlights. St Lucia Kings’ decision to bowl first set the tone for a disciplined bowling effort, and TKR’s innings never quite found its rhythm, ending at a paltry 109 all out in 18.1 overs. The Kings’ bowlers, led by the crafty Tabraiz Shamsi, exploited the conditions and TKR’s hesitancy, resulting in a collapse that saw wickets fall at regular intervals.

Trinbago Knight Riders Innings

The innings began with a jolt as Colin Munro, one of TKR’s most reliable batters, fell for a duck on just the second ball. Khary Pierre struck early, inducing an edge to Delano Potgieter at slip, leaving TKR at 0/1. The pressure was immediate, and Darren Bravo joined Alex Hales to stabilize the innings. Bravo started confidently, striking a boundary and a six off Pierre, but his aggression was short-lived. Pierre struck again in the third over, dismissing Bravo for 11 (9 balls) as Alzarri Joseph pouched a catch at mid-off. TKR were 12/2, and the Kings’ bowlers were already dictating terms.

Ring! Ring! Shamsi answers the call! 🤙 #CPL25 #TKRvSLK #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport pic.twitter.com/B9ywx5qy9P

— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 4, 2025

Hales and Nicholas Pooran, TKR’s captain and wicketkeeper, attempted to rebuild. Hales played a cautious hand, managing a boundary but struggling to rotate the strike against Roston Chase’s tight off-spin. The pair added 28 runs for the third wicket, but Chase broke through in the sixth over, bowling Hales for 9 (10 balls) as he missed a straighter delivery. TKR were 40/3 at the end of the powerplay, a far cry from their usual explosive starts. The introduction of Shamsi in the seventh over proved catastrophic for TKR. Akeal Hosein, promoted up the order, lasted just one ball, bowled by a ripping googly for a duck, leaving TKR reeling at 41/4.

Pooran, known for his flair, tried to anchor the innings, hitting a couple of sixes off David Wiese’s medium pace. However, his stay was cut short in the 10th over when Chase struck again, tempting Pooran (30 off 27 balls) into a lofted cover drive that found Tim Seifert’s safe hands. The decision was reviewed, and the third umpire upheld the call, leaving TKR at 59/5 at the strategic timeout. The middle order, featuring heavyweights like Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell, needed to fire, but Shamsi’s spin wizardry kept them in check.

Pollard, usually a game-changer, struggled to find fluency against Shamsi’s variations. He managed a solitary boundary but was bowled for 14 (17 balls) in the 14th over, undone by a well-disguised wrong’un. Russell, known for his brute force, provided a brief spark, smashing a six and a four off Shamsi before the spinner had the last laugh, bowling him for 12 (7 balls) in the 12th over. TKR were 73/6, and the innings was in disarray.

Nathan Edward and Terrance Hinds offered some resistance, with Edward hitting a six off Wiese to push TKR past 100 in the 17th over. However, their fightback was short-lived. Hinds (7 off 8) fell to Potgieter in the 18th over, caught by Ackeem Auguste, and Sunil Narine followed soon after for 1 (2 balls), caught by Joseph off Potgieter. Edward’s gritty 17 (24 balls) ended when Joseph cleaned him up in the 19th over, wrapping up TKR’s innings at 109/10. Usman Tariq remained not out on 4 (2 balls).

The Saint Lucia Kings need 110 runs to secure victory! #CPL25 #TKRvSLK #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport pic.twitter.com/qLij1mGTPw

— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 4, 2025

Shamsi was the standout bowler, finishing with 3/12 in his four overs, his economy of 3.00 and clever variations proving too much for TKR’s batters. The powerplay yielded just 40 runs for three wickets, and the strategic timeout saw TKR limping at 59/5. The final tally of 109 was their lowest of the season, a stark contrast to their earlier performances, where Munro and Pooran had powered them to the top of the table. The Kings had set themselves a straightforward chase, needing just 110 runs in 20 overs to claim victory.

St Lucia Kings Innings

Chasing a modest 110, St Lucia Kings approached the task with confidence and aggression, wrapping up the chase in just 11.1 overs for a commanding seven-wicket win. Their batting, led by Tim Seifert and Roston Chase, was clinical, navigating TKR’s bowling attack with ease. The Kings’ top order set the tone early, and despite losing three wickets, they never looked troubled, finishing at 112/3 with 53 balls remaining.

Tim David looks to end it in style ✨ #CPL25 #TKRvSLK #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport #RepublicBank pic.twitter.com/53vXWHjEVR

— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 4, 2025

Seifert and Johnson Charles opened the batting, looking to exploit the powerplay. TKR’s Akeal Hosein started with a tidy over, but Charles fell early in the second over to Sunil Narine, caught by Munro at cover for 1 (2 balls). The Kings were 26/1, but Seifert and Ackeem Auguste ensured the momentum stayed with them. Seifert was in scintillating form, smashing six fours and a six in his 36 (19 balls). He targeted Hosein and Andre Russell, dispatching loose deliveries with ease. Auguste complemented him, striking four boundaries and a six in his 28 (18 balls). The pair added 40 runs for the second wicket, taking SLK to 66/1 at the end of the powerplay.

TKR’s bowlers struggled for control, with Russell’s solitary over proving expensive at 20 runs. Usman Tariq provided a breakthrough in the seventh over, dismissing Seifert, caught by Hosein at deep midwicket, for 36. The score was 66/2, and Narine struck again in the eighth over, trapping Auguste lbw for 28 after a successful review by TKR. At 73/3, the Kings were momentarily tested, but Roston Chase and Tim David ensured there were no further hiccups.

Chase, playing a captain’s knock, was composed yet aggressive, finishing unbeaten on 27 (18 balls) with five fours. His ability to find gaps and rotate the strike kept the scoreboard ticking. David, the big-hitting finisher, smashed two sixes in his unbeaten 17 (10 balls), sealing the chase with a flourish. The pair added an unbroken 39 runs for the fourth wicket, guiding SLK to 112/3 in 11.1 overs. The winning runs came off Tariq’s bowling, with David lofting a boundary to spark celebrations in the Kings’ camp.

TKR’s bowling effort lacked penetration. Narine was the pick of the bowlers, taking 2/28 in four overs, including the crucial wickets of Charles and Auguste. Tariq claimed 1/26, but his 2.1 overs were expensive. Hosein went wicketless, conceding 37 runs in his four overs, while Russell’s single over was a costly experiment. The Kings’ batters capitalized on TKR’s inability to build pressure, with the powerplay yielding 66 runs for just one wicket. By the strategic timeout at 10 overs, SLK were 99/3, needing just 11 more runs, which Chase and David knocked off effortlessly.

Kings conquer the Knight Riders at BLCA! 🇱🇨#CPL25 #TKRvSLK #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport #Sky365 pic.twitter.com/4kyXBiWY80

— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 4, 2025

The Kings’ chase was a masterclass in controlled aggression. Seifert’s explosive start set the platform, Auguste’s brisk knock kept the momentum, and Chase’s steady hand, combined with David’s power, ensured a smooth finish. The victory moved SLK to 12 points, level with TKR but trailing slightly on net run rate. Shamsi 3/12 earned him the Player of the Match honors.

TCNI’s Magic Moment of the Game

Just like the spin of a well-tossed googly, Tabraiz Shamsi weaved his magic in the Trinbago Knight Riders’ innings, earning the TCNI Magic Moment of the Game. The South African left-arm spinner delivered a match-defining performance, finishing with exceptional figures of 3 wickets for 12 runs in his 4 overs. His tight bowling, with an economy rate of 3.00, stifled the Knight Riders’ batting lineup, restricting them to a modest 109 all out in 18.1 overs. Shamsi’s spell was pivotal, dismissing key batsmen Kieron Pollard (14), Andre Russell (12), and Akeal Hosein (0) in quick succession.

Tabraiz Shamsi has made the Brian Lara Cricket Academy his own tonight! 💫#CPL25 #TKRvSLK #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport #BetExc pic.twitter.com/PH0y5aUZMO

— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 4, 2025

His ability to bowl 16 dot balls kept the pressure on, breaking the back of the middle order. The Knight Riders struggled to counter his guile, with only Nicholas Pooran (30) and Nathan Edward (17) offering some resistance. Shamsi’s disciplined line and clever variations turned the game in his team’s favor, ensuring they maintained control throughout.

TCNI’s Hero of the Day

Getting the St Lucia Kings over the line, Roston Chase proved his worth as TCNI’s Hero of the Day with a composed and impactful performance. In a chase of 110 runs against a challenging bowling attack, Chase remained not out on 27 runs off just 18 balls, steering his team to victory with a strike rate of 150. His innings included five crisp boundaries, showcasing his ability to find gaps and keep the scoreboard ticking.

Flying through the powerplay! 💨#CPL25 #TKRvSLK #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport #BetExc pic.twitter.com/IHowtIscc0

— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 4, 2025

Coming in after the fall of Johnson Charles (1 off 2) and Tim Seifert (36 off 19), Chase anchored the innings, forming a crucial partnership with Tim David (17* off 10). His calm presence ensured the Kings chased down the target in just 11.1 overs, finishing at 112/3 with a run rate of 10.02. Despite early setbacks, including Ackeem Auguste’s dismissal (28 off 18), Chase’s steady batting neutralized the threat from bowlers like Sunil Narine (2/28) and Usman Tariq (1/26).