The 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) delivered another dramatic twist on Tuesday, as a match-winning century from Quinton de Kock could not prevent the Barbados Tridents from falling to a third consecutive defeat at the hands of the St Kitts Nevis Patriots in Basseterre. The six-wicket loss leaves Barbados rooted at the foot of the league table, deepening their early-season slump despite a standout individual performance from their star wicketkeeper-batter.
Put into bat first after losing the toss, the Tridents got off to a rocky start when opening batter Brandon King was dismissed for just two runs in the second over. The side stabilized quickly, however, reaching 53 runs for one wicket by the end of the mandatory powerplay, thanks to a growing partnership between Quinton de Kock and young batter Zachary Carter.
The pair built a commanding 119-run stand until the 13th over, when Carter fell to the bowling after a blistering 57-run knock off just 36 deliveries, decorated by seven towering sixes and a single four. De Kock continued to exploit the high-scoring batting pitch, racing to his 10th career T20 century before being cleaned up by Pakistani fast bowler Naseem Shah with 10 balls remaining in the innings. His 106-run innings came from only 57 deliveries, including 11 fours and six maximums.
Late contributions from Sherfane Rutherford (26 runs) and Tridents captain Chris Green, who hit an unbeaten 18 from just seven balls, lifted the Tridents to a competitive final total of 217 runs for four wickets – a score that on most pitches is considered a match-winning total. For the Patriots, Shah was the stand-out bowler, finishing with figures of two wickets for 43 runs, while star all-rounders Wanindu Hasaranga and Jason Holder each claimed one wicket apiece.
The Patriots got off to a flying start in their run chase, reaching 58 runs without loss by the end of the powerplay, and extended their unbeaten opening stand to 110 runs by the conclusion of the 10th over. The Tridents finally broke the partnership two balls later, when Kyle Mayers was run out for 29 off 27 deliveries. Opener Johnson Charles fell in the 13th over for a quickfire 78 from 45 balls, leaving the hosts on 132 runs for two wickets. Charles’ knock, which included seven sixes and six fours, earned him Player of the Match honors despite a controversial mid-innings recall after being initially given out caught.
Dasun Shanaka chipped in with a rapid 36 runs, and captain Jason Holder added 18, before Andre Fletcher struck the winning runs with five balls still left to bowl. Fletcher finished unbeaten on 22 from just eight deliveries, smashing three sixes in the process, and received valuable late support from Hasaranga, who hit 18 runs from only four deliveries. For the Tridents, Daniel Sams was the most effective bowler, finishing with two wickets for 40 runs.
Speaking to reporters after the match, Tridents captain Green said he had entered the second innings confident his side’s total would be enough to secure victory. “I’m really proud of our efforts with the bat, especially de Kock getting that hundred,” Green explained. “You never want to lose when one of your top players steps up like that, and you post 220-odd on the board halfway through.”
Green admitted his bowling unit failed to execute their plans consistently, but saved particular criticism for a key umpiring decision that allowed Charles to return to the crease after he had already walked off following an initial out decision. “We started well, then I think we just lost our way a little with the ball,” he said. “I thought the umpires managed the game poorly with that decision – a player walks off the field, then comes back. That needs to be looked at, it’s not a good look for this tournament.”
The result gives the Patriots their second win from seven matches, pushing them up the table to five points. The Tridents, who also sit on five points but have played only four matches, remain at the bottom of the standings on net run rate. They will get a chance to climb the table when the CPL moves to Kensington Oval for their next set of matches this weekend.