A RECORD-BREAKING bowling spell from Mohammad Irfan proved in vain as St Kitts & Nevis Patriots chased down Barbados Tridents’ 147-6 to complete a six-wicket Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) victory despite the big Pakistan fast bowler conceding just a single run from his four overs.

That solitary run was scampered by Brandon King from the final delivery of Irfan’s mesmerising four-over spell with the new ball.

Despite narrowly missing out on a shutout, Irfan does now possess the most economical figures for a full four-over allocation in the history of all T20 cricket, beating the previous record of two runs conceded held by Chanaka Welegedara and Chris Morris.

For good measure, Irfan also removed both Patriots openers caught behind, with Chris Gayle falling to the very first ball of the innings and Evin Lewis following in his next over. Irfan finished his night’s work with the scarcely believable figures of 4-3-1-2.

Yet it wasn’t enough. King and Devon Thomas, having struggled just to lay a bat on Irfan, found things much more to their liking after his spell came to an end.

They suddenly roared into life. After the first 42 balls of the innings brought only 18 runs, the next 30 brought an equally unbelievable 75 as the game was turned completely on its head. Steve Smith’s second over, the 10th of the innings, was bludgeoned for 27 runs including four huge sixes. After the Carib drinks break, Raymon Reifer was promptly taken for 22 more.

A required rate that had started below 7.5 then rapidly ballooned above 10 during Irfan’s miraculous spell was now below seven an over. King completed a 42-ball 50 having made just 14 from his first 27 deliveries.

Wahab Riaz – whose own figures of 1-17 from 3.5 overs would have been eye-catchingly economical on a normal night – did send Thomas’ middle stump flying but by now the Patriots were cruising.

By the time King fell for 60 from 49 balls the required rate was below a run a ball, with Ben Cutting adding to his two earlier wickets with an unbeaten 29 to see his side home in the 19th over.