The Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba set the stage for an enthralling encounter on September 1, 2025, as Trinbago Knight Riders faced off against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots in the Caribbean Premier League’s 19th match of the season. Seeking to consolidate their position atop the table, the Knight Riders won the toss and elected to bat under humid skies and on a surface offering true bounce. Early breakthroughs by Jason Holder and Ashmead Nedd briefly rocked TKR, reducing them to 27 for 2 inside the powerplay. Colin Munro and Alex Hales fell cheaply for 17 and 7, respectively, before Darren Bravo, looking in sublime touch, was dismissed for 21 in the tenth over, leaving the hosts at 78 for 3 at the strategic timeout. In this crucial juncture, the match hung in the balance, with a below-par total looming if captains couldn’t engineer a late-innings flourish. It was here that veteran all-rounder Kieron Pollard unleashed a torrent of power hitting that not only rescued the innings but propelled it to a brutally competitive 179 for 6.
Kieron Pollard storms through Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots
The introduction of Pollard into the middle order instantly lifted the atmosphere, as a palpable sense of belief coursed through both the players and the crowd. Joining forces with captain Nicholas Pooran, Pollard absorbed the initial pressure before unleashing an assault on the Patriots’ bowlers that will linger in T20 folklore. After a cautious start—15 runs from his first 14 balls—the 38-year-old exploded in the 15th over, carving Navin Bidaisee for three consecutive sixes that rattled the opposition roost. This was merely a prelude to the carnage that followed in the next over against Waqar Salamkheil. What was slated to be a tight spell turned into an outright demolition as Pollard walloped four more maximums, accumulating a staggering seven sixes in eight deliveries. His fifty arrived in just 21 balls, achieved exclusively through colossal sixes, a rare feat highlighting his enduring physical prowess and impeccable timing.
Throughout this whirlwind cameo, Pollard amassed 53 runs off his final 16 balls at a strike rate exceeding 330. By the time the dust had settled, he had contributed a match-defining 65 from 29 balls, peppered with eight sixes and two fours at a strike rate of 224.13. His partnership with Pooran yielded 90 runs in only 8.1 overs, illustrating a textbook example of synergy between two of the modern era’s most destructive white-ball batters. Riding on this momentum, Andre Russell added a quickfire 10 not out, allowing TKR to finish on a commanding 179 for 6.
Also WATCH: Shai Hope gets out hit-wicket as Trinbago Knight Riders outclass Guyana Amazon Warriors in CPL 2025 clash
Trinbago Knight Riders’ bowling masterclass seals victory
Chasing 180 on a deck that had eased considerably, the Patriots began brightly. Evin Lewis’ blistering 42 off 25 balls and Andre Fletcher’s anchoring 67 from 54 deliveries forged a 96-run opening stand, signalling a potentially straightforward pursuit. However, TKR’s bowling unit, marshalled by Nathan Edward’s disciplined accuracy, imposed critical breakthroughs. Edward’s incisive spell of 3 for 30 in 3.2 overs breached the partnership, dismissing Lewis and disrupting the Patriots’ rhythm. Mohammad Amir supplemented with 2 for 29, exploiting variable bounce to unsettle the middle order. As required run rate climbed above ten per over, fielding lapses faded and pressure mounted; Kyle Mayers, Jyd Goolie, and Jason Holder fell in quick succession, ensuring that despite late resistance from Mohammad Rizwan (10*) and Bidaisee (12*), the Patriots closed on 167 for 6—12 runs shy of the target.
This victory extended TKR’s winning streak to five matches and solidified their status as the team to beat in CPL 2025. With six victories from seven outings, they sat atop the points table, buoyed by a blend of explosive batting and incisive bowling. Pollard’s performance not only earned him the Player of the Match accolade but also propelled him into the tournament’s top run-scorers list, amassing 223 runs at a scintillating strike rate of 182.78.
Fifth consecutive win for Trinbago Knight Riders 💯💥#TrinbagoKnightRiders #CPL #KieronPollard #Cricket pic.twitter.com/8cnNtEaGY0
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) September 2, 2025
Also WATCH: Barbados Royals give Bollywood twist to mock Mohammad Rizwan’s dismissal in CPL 2025
