-Pollard, Simmons finish with most boundaries
By Clifton Ross
Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) etched their names into the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) history books after, storming to their 5th title following a record unbeaten run; also ending with the most runs, wickets and boundaries this season.
As if the 2020 edition of ‘Summer’s Biggest Party’ was tailor-made for Kieron Pollard and his men, TKR took full advantage of hosting all 33 matches inside their ‘Bio secure-Bubble’. Rumors swirled prior to the start of the completion about Knight Rider players getting some precious training and practice time while others were stuck inside their hotels, following COVID-19 safety protocol.
If true, then TKR should give themselves a pat on the back after making the most of opportunities that were not afforded to the other franchise and as a result; finishing with the title easily and safely in their clutches.
Played for the first time without fans or the party-like atmosphere as in previous editions, the familiarity of the Brian Lara Ground and the Queen’s Park Oval outweighed that of the other teams or players who may have some knowledge of the conditions.
As a batting unit, TKR imposed themselves as bullies, whether it was Lendl Simmons who did a phenomenal job to end the season as the leading run-scorer with 356 runs or the combined efforts of their world-class bowling attack which saw them ending with 86 victims overall; the Riders have set the example on how to play cricket at home.
In total, the labors of Simmons who should have easily had three centuries after racking up scores of; 96, 54* and 84* or Darren Bravo, who ended 3rd overall on the runs chart and second behind Simmons in the team with 297 runs, with three half-century scores (54*, 50 and 58*) as well; saw the Trinidadian franchise ending with a whopping 1,683 runs, the most by any team this year.
Darren Sammy and his St. Lucia Zouks, who broke the hearts of Guyanese when they steamrolled the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the semi-finals, had the bad hand dealt to them as they suffered a thumping loss in Thursday’s final but not before ending the season with 1,454 team run; second behind TKR.
The Jamaica Tallawahs recorded 1,338 runs to finish in 3rd place as leading run-getters. Pollard and his men also flexed their guns in the bowling department as their collective assault on batsman this season resulted in a number of their bowlers finishing with at least 6 wickets apiece.
Again it was the Zouks who played second fiddle, as their bowlers, especially the Kiwi pacer Scott Kuggeleijn who finished as the leading bowler with 17 wickets; playing a huge part of his team wrapping up their 2020 campaign with 77 wickets to their credit.
With TKR leading the batting charge almost all season, despite Warriors batsman Shimron Hetmyer holding down the number 1 batsman spot for almost the entire tourney before slipping down the ranks; it was no surprise that Simmons led with the most fours struck this year, smacking 26 of them.
Pollard, who ended with 207 runs and a blistering 72 being his highlight innings, kept his rank as one of the premier T20 six-hitters after hammering 20 of them which was the most by any player this season.
Even the 49 year-old Pravin Tambe, the oldest player this year and the first Indian to ever play in the CPL, managed to squeeze himself into the records books after recording the best bowling economy; a flat 4.00 runs-per over which further buffed the new champions incredible 2020 CPL accomplishments.
