Republic Bank CPL Qualifier 2

AN even fifty from Skipper Nicolas Pooran took four-time Champions Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) to an emphatic 56-run victory over St Lucia Kings in the Republic Bank CPL last night at Providence.

Pooran’s 50 lasted 32 balls and was laced with five fours and four sixes. It was his second consecutive half-century and his second Man-of-the-Match Award.

This is the sixth time that TKR has reached the final of the CPL.

Half-centuries from Alex Hales, who made an unbeaten 58 from 44 balls with three fours and three sixes, Kieron Pollard, whose 35 included four sixes and Andre Russell, who scored a cameo 28 from just 12 balls which included three sixes, took TKR to 194-4 in 20 overs.

Tim Seifert made 40 balls with eight fours and a six, but only Tim David, who hit two fours and two sixes in 28, reached 20 as the Kings were restricted to 138-8 when their 20 overs expired.

Usman Tariq had 4-35 and got support from Sunil Narine, who took 3-18.

The Kings began their reply in Royal fashion with Seifert smashing USA pacer Saurabh Netravalkar for a six and four in the first before hammering for four consecutive fours in the fourth over.

Johnson Charles played the supporting role as the 50 came up in 42 balls with seven fours and a six.

Seifert was dropped on the mid-wicket boundary on 38 off Akeal Hosein with the Kings on 53 without loss.

Charles (17) was removed by Pollard, who broke the 59-run stand in the ninth over.

After 10 overs, the Kings were 61-1 with Seifert on 42 and Tim David on one, and most of the sold-out crowd were supporting the Kings for a repeat of last year’s Final.

Tariq was greeted by a six from David before Seifert smashed Hosein for back-to-back boundaries to reach his 50 from 38 balls with seven fours and a six.

Tariq induced Seifert to hit a ball, which turned away from him to point, before removing Ackeem Auguste for a first-ball duck as the Kings slipped 90-3.

The 100 was posted from 86 balls as West Indies Test captain Roston Chase joined David, who deposited Narine into the Green stand. Narine then induced David (28) to edge to the Keeper at 108-4 to silence the raucous crowd.

Aaron Jones (12) missed a reverse sweep to Narine and was adjudged lbw, while Wiese (0) was caught and bowled in the same over as two wickets fell at 132.

Tariq got rid of Chase (16) and Mills (6) to take his 18^th wicket and finish level with the Warriors’ Gudakesh Motie. Both are two behind Imran Tahir.

Earlier, TKR were asked to bat on a good strip and fast outfield.

Colin Munroe hit Khary Pierre for six before being bowled in the first over.

Pooran, who scored an unbeaten 90 in his last innings, joined Hales, who scored 54 in his last match. The left-handed Pooran dominated the stand.

The pugnacious Pooran went after the bowling while Hales played the support.

When the 50 came up in off 33 balls in the fifth over, Pooran had 31 and Hales six.

The 50 partnership was posted off the next ball, including four fours and three sixes.

Pierre, Roston Chase, Alzarri Joseph and David Wiese were deposited over the boundary by Pooran, who looked in top form.

Pooran’s 50 came off 31 and was decorated with five fours and four sixes to the delight of another capacity crowd.

Chase broke the 73-run second-wicket stand when he bowled Pooran at 79-2 in 10.1 overs.

Pollard joined Hales, who stepped on the gas as he dumped Tymal Mills for a six and four.

The 100 came off 75 with five fours and seven sixes.

Pollard launched into left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi and hit him for three sixes in an over that cost 20 runs.

Wiese dropped Hales on 31 off Mills at 138-2 in the 16^th over, but made amends for the lapse when he held at catch at mid-off as Joseph removed the dangerous Pollard at 144-3.

Pollard and Hales put together 65 for the third wicket.

Pollard’s demise brought Russell to join Hales, who hit Joseph for six to reach his fifty from 41 with three sixes and three fours.

Russel clobbered Wiese for three sixes and four in the last over, which cost 23 runs before being run off the final ball as Russell and Hales put on 50 from just 21 balls.

TKR will face the Warriors in what is anticipated to be a thrilling CPL Final tomorrow from 20:00 hours at Providence.