TKR too strong for Tridents

TAROUBA, Trinidad, (CMC):

Reigning champions Barbados Tridents crumbled under the pressure of a venue record run chase and slumped to their second defeat in three games with a 19-run loss to Trinbago Knight Riders yesterday.

Asked to chase 186 after Darren Bravo and New Zealander Colin Munro’s fifties had propelled TKR to the highest total of the new tournament, Tridents started strongly but then faded badly to end on 166 for six off their 20 overs.

Johnson Charles smashed his 13th Caribbean Premier League half-century as he top-scored with 52 but his opening partner Shai Hope laboured for 36 off 38 deliveries, as Tridents surrendered their early momentum in the chase.

By the time captain Jason Holder arrived to belt an unbeaten 34 from 19 balls, the game was already gone and TKR easily notched their third win on the trot to ease to the top of the standings with six points.

TKR had earlier topped St Lucia Zouks’ 172 on Saturday to post a new stadium record of 185 for three off their 20 overs at the Brian Lara Academy, and leave Tridents with a very difficult run chase.

Opener Sunil Narine (8) failed for the first time and Lendl Simmons never suggested permanence in a run-a-ball 21, but Bravo oozed class in an unbeaten 54 off 36 balls, while Munro struck an entertaining 50 off 30 deliveries.

Captain Kieron Pollard combined with Bravo at the death to accelerate the scoring, thrilling with a 17-ball unbeaten 41 as TKR gathered 69 runs off the last four overs of the innings.

Opting to bowl first, Tridents were stingy up front and TKR scraped just 15 runs off the first four overs as seamers Holder and Kyle Mayers proved disciplined.