The 2026 Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) delivered a thrilling turnaround for home side Barbados Tridents at Kensington Oval on September 6, as a dominant bowling performance led by Afghanistan spinner Mujeeb Ur Rahman propelled the team to an eight-wicket victory over Saint Lucia Kings, snapping a four-match losing skid. The result marks the Tridents’ third win of the season, and their second victory against the Kings in this year’s campaign.
Saint Lucia came into the match desperate to rebound from a dismal outing just three days prior, where they were bowled out for only 98 runs against the Guyana Amazon Warriors. They got off to a promising start, with opener Kamil Pooran capitalizing on the powerplay rules to push the score to 51 for 1 after the first six overs. But the game shifted dramatically when Mujeeb clean-bowled Pooran just six deliveries after the powerplay, triggering a catastrophic collapse for the Kings.
Mujeeb and fast bowler Jakeem Pollard tightened their lines drastically, squeezing the run rate and putting constant pressure on Saint Lucia’s batting lineup. Former Tridents all-rounder Roston Chase attempted to stabilize the innings and rebuild the run chase after Pooran’s departure, but Barbados’ bowling unit had found its rhythm, making boundaries nearly impossible to come by. Only one of the Tridents’ six bowlers finished the innings with an economy rate above 10 runs per over, and the consistent pressure paid off with regular wickets as the Kings tried to accelerate late in the innings.
Mujeeb emerged as the undisputed standout of the match, finishing with career-best CPL figures of 3 wickets for just 22 runs from his allocated four overs. Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams backed him up brilliantly, claiming 2 wickets for 20 runs from his four overs to leave the Kings reeling. In the final five overs of the innings, Saint Lucia could only manage 29 runs while losing three more wickets, as the Tridents’ fielders and bowlers choked off all boundary opportunities. The Kings ended their 20 overs at a modest 138 for 6, leaving the home side well placed to chase down the target in comfortable fashion.
Barbados got off to a strong start in their run chase, with opening batters Brandon King and Zachary Carter outpacing the required run rate from the first ball. The pair put together a solid opening partnership of 41 runs before Roston Chase claimed the first breakthrough for Saint Lucia, dismissing King for a quick knock. Carter followed King back to the pavilion shortly after, having scored a useful 32 runs, bringing Rivaldo Clarke to the crease to join experienced wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock.
For several overs, the Kings’ bowling unit replicated the tight pressure the Tridents had applied earlier, with Joshua Bishop and Charith Asalanka testing de Kock and Clark repeatedly, with a few half-chances going incomplete off their bowling. But the Tridents’ middle-order pair kept their composure, pacing their innings to avoid mistakes and building a match-winning partnership. The pair remained unbeaten through to the end, putting together an unbroken 76-run stand to guide the Tridents across the finish line with 13 full overs to spare.
With the win secured, the Tridents will continue their home stand this week, facing the Patriots in their next fixture on Thursday. The Saint Lucia Kings, meanwhile, will play their final group stage match against the Warriors on Wednesday as they look to qualify for the tournament’s playoff stage.