The 2024 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) delivered a dramatic story of former loyalty turned on-field triumph on August 12, as the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots pulled off a five-wicket victory over the Saint Lucia Kings at Gros Islet’s Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. The fixture marked the Saint Lucia Kings’ first of five scheduled home matches of the 2024 regular season, drawing a lively packed crowd to the iconic venue, and also featured the highly anticipated CPL debut of Sri Lankan international batter Charith Asalanka.
What made the Patriots’ win stand out was the decisive contribution of a trio of ex-Saint Lucia Kings players who knew every inch of the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground from years of competing on its pitch. Leading that group was Johnson Charles, a Saint Lucian native who holds the record as both the Kings’ and the entire CPL’s all-time leading run-scorer. Charles got the Patriots’ chase off to a blistering start, notching a quickfire 16 to set the tone for the visitors’ innings.
The match opened with a shaky start for the home side, who lost opening batters Andries Gous and Ackeem Auguste within the first few overs, leaving them reeling at 2 wickets down early. The Kings’ batting order recovered steadily, however, reaching 57 for 2 by the end of the mandatory powerplay fielding restrictions. Trinidadian batter Kamil Pooran delivered a standout performance, notching his first ever half-century in T20 cricket with a composed 54 runs before a brilliant run-out from Sri Lankan star Wanindu Hasaranga ended his innings. Pooran built a match-defining 82-run third-wicket partnership with all-rounder Jewel Andrew, who carried on after Pooran’s dismissal to hit his own half-century before being out for 58.
Patriots captain Jason Holder and fast bowler Saurabh Netravalkar turned the tide for the visitors in the back half of the Kings’ innings, each claiming three wickets to stifle the home side’s momentum. Consistent pressure from the Patriots’ bowling attack restricted the Kings to a final total of 155 for 8 off their 20 overs, a score widely viewed as well below par on the batting-friendly Daren Sammy ground.
Chasing 156 for victory, the Patriots got off to a flying start in the powerplay, thanks to more heroics from another former King. Kyle Mayers smashed 32 runs off just 16 deliveries, propelling the Patriots to 59 runs by the end of the first six overs. A mid-innings collapse followed, as a string of inconsistent shot selection from the Patriots batters allowed the Kings to claw back wickets and put the result back in doubt. But Andre Fletcher, the third ex-Saint Lucia Kings player in the Patriots lineup, held firm to carry his bat through the remainder of the chase, steering the visitors across the finish line for a five-wicket win.