Trinbago Knight Riders wicketkeeper-batsman Nicholas Pooran scored a century to lead the way to a comprehensive 74-run win over table-toppers Guyana Amazon Warriors in the last league stage match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2024.

Nicholas Pooran’s brilliant century

Trinbago Knight Riders captain Kieron Pollard won the toss and decided to bat first. Imran Tahir dismissed opener Shaker Paris for a duck in three balls, after which Pooran had to come out to bat early. Puran made his debut by hitting a six on a no ball.

Jason Roy struggled to rotate the strike, while Pooran dominated the powerplay overs. He completed his half-century in just 22 balls in the sixth over. After six overs, Knight Riders’ score was 75/1. He crossed the 100-run mark in the ninth over. Puran played big innings continuously in the middle overs. In the 12th over, Roy hit two sixes to his former partner Moeen Ali.

Meanwhile, in the 14th over, Puran completed his second T20 century in 57 balls. Shamar Joseph got the breakthrough as Roy got the wicket. The opening batsman scored 34 runs in 26 balls. Andre Russell could not do much damage and was out on a single digit score off the bowling of Dwayne Pretorius. Joseph took wickets on consecutive balls in his third over. He dismissed Pooran and Tim David.

Puran hit nine fours and eight sixes in his innings of 101 runs in 59 balls. Pollard and Casey Carty scored a lot of runs in the slog overs. Carty hit a six and two fours off Romario Shepherd in the last over, taking the Knight Riders’ score to 211/5. Carty remained unbeaten on 27 runs off 13 balls while Pollard scored 19 runs on 13 balls.

Guyana Amazon Warriors’ innings flopped

The Warriors dismissed Kevalon Anderson early off the bowling of Nathan Edwards. But the Warriors got a great start from both ends by Shai Hope and Rahmanullah Gurbaz. In the sixth over, Hope hit two sixes and three fours on Russell. After the powerplay over, Warriors’ score was 63/1.

After this, in the seventh over, left arm spinner Akil Hosein got Hope out LBW. He scored 28 runs on 19 balls. Waqar Salamkhel dismissed Gurbaz and Shimron Hetmyer twice in the ninth over. Gurbaz scored 36 runs on 22 balls while Hetmyer scored nine runs.

Terrence Hinds took the wickets of Keemo Paul and Shepherd in the next over and the Warriors lost six wickets for 76 runs at half-way and the team’s collapse continued. Salamkhel dismissed Pretorius while Hinds did not allow Ali to stay at the crease for a short time. Gudakesh Moti and Tahir tried to save their team from getting out.

Before the last over, Edwards took the wickets of Tahir and Joseph and wrapped up the innings. Tahir contributed 20 runs per ball while Moti remained unbeaten on 26 runs. The Warriors were bowled out for 137 and lost the match by 74 runs.

Playoff matches in CPL 2024

Knight Riders will face Barbados Royals in the eliminator on October 1. Warriors will face St. Lucia Kings on October 2.