debut: 2/16/17
40,656 runs
8:46 pm Hello and welcome back to the run chase. The St Lucia Kings have a seemingly straightforward chase of just 109 runs, but a win would confirm their spot in the qualifiers and spoil the home team's last match of the season at their home ground. The chase won't be easy, though, as the Knight Riders have a cavalry of world-class spinners who will be a tough challenge to overcome.
Khary Pierre: "[Collective Bowling Effort] First, I must give Almighty God thanks for blessing me with the opportunity to come out and play tonight. Kudos to the backroom staff; they worked out a very good plan for us, and it was just for the bowlers to come and execute it. I attribute my success to being brave and also being calm at the same time. It's a very difficult job, and I just want to be brave, knowing that there are only two fielders out [in the Powerplay], and calm when I get hit for a boundary to come back and bowl a better ball. All in all, I think it was a great team effort, and I'm just relishing the role of playing cricket. I'm really happy right now, and I thank the St Lucia Kings for having me. [On the Cross Celebration] Yes, I'm a Christian, and I just want to give thanks to God every time I step on the cricket field. [Conditions] We were watching the games, and on this ground, the toss is very crucial. We wanted to try and restrict them as best as possible, and we did that successfully. So it will be a tough task for their batsmen."
8:40 pm A dream start for the St Lucia Kings! Pierre dismissed Munro for a duck on the second ball of the match and got his second scalp, Darren Bravo, in his next over. Pooran tried to counterattack with back-to-back sixes against Wiese, but the spinners took over. At the end of the Powerplay, Roston Chase bowled Hales with a flighted delivery, and Shamsi struck straightaway, leaving the home team struggling at 41/4. The Knight Riders' woes continued as they were 59/5 after 10 overs, losing their skipper Pooran, who was their top scorer with 30 runs. Their last hope, Pollard and Russell, were both caught by surprise inside the crease and bowled out by a brilliant Shamsi. The innings was completely dominated by the Kings' bowlers. Shamsi was the pick of the bowlers with three wickets, while Pierre, Chase, and Potgieter each picked up two.
Hajji49: "As a TKR fan, (although the game isn't over yet) guess it's better to lose now than in the playoffs. Was it poor batting, great bowling or a tricky wicket?" I would say a mixture of poor batting and great bowling.
