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19 March 2024

CPL T20: Pakistan star Akmal rocks as Trinbago Knight Riders win

Trinbago Knight Riders batsman Umar Akmal middles the ball to the boundary during the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Match 24 between St Lucia Zouks and Trinbago Knight Riders at the Daren Sammy Cricket Stadium in Gros Islet, St Lucia. (CPL/Sportsfile)

Published
By Cricket Correspondent

A brilliant half century from Pakistan star Umar Akmal (73) kept Trinbago Knight Riders in the hunt for a knockout spot Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) as they dented St Lucia Zouks home  record.

Chasing a target of 168, Akmal swung the game in favour of Knight Riders after they had slumped to 63-5 in the 10th over before winning win an over to spare.

Daren Sammy top scored for the Zouks as he continued to dominate the matches played in a stadium named after him, but it wasn’t enough for him to keep a perfect record at the ground as Akmal won this game on his own.  

Brendon McCullum and William Perkins got the chase of 168 for victory underway for the Knight Riders, but both fell inside the PowerPlay.

McCullum miscuing a drive off Jerome Taylor and Perkins failing to spot a Kyle Mayers slower ball and offering an easy catch.

There was a recovery of sorts courtesy of New Zealander Colin Munro but he rode his luck while he was there and was gone for just 21.

He was nearly run out and was dropped by Fletcher before another run out opportunity was taken by Sammy - a direct hit finding Munro short of his ground.

When Denesh Ramdin went in the same over for four it meant there were two batsmen at the crease who were yet to get off the mark after three wickets fell for 11 runs in the space of 12 balls.

Sammy brought himself on to bowl and picked up his sixth wicket in the four matches in St Lucia when he had Bravo caught gloving a ball down the leg side. Reeling at 63-5 in the 10th over, it looked like the Knight Riders were finished.

Akmal had other ideas as he slammed a 35-ball 73. His partnership with Anton Devcich brought the Knight Riders back into the match and when Devcich went Akmal was well supported by Sunil Narine as they reached their victory target with six balls to spare.

Brief scores

Trinbago Knight Riders 168-7 (U Akmal 73, D Johnson 3 for 22) beat St Lucia Zouks 167-6 (D Sammy 37, D Bravo 2 for 34) by three wickets.