Rain-affected win keeps St Lucia's hopes alive

An extended rain interruption kept St Lucia Zouks' CPL hopes alive as they won by 17 runs (Duckworth-Lewis method) against Antigua Hawksbills on Thursday.

Chasing a target of 180, and with the possibility of heavy rain, Johnson Charles gave Antigua a flamboyant start, hitting three successive fours off Garey Mathurin in the first over, before losing his wicket off the fifth ball. A couple of overs later, Kieran Powell was dismissed in a similar fashion, offering a simple return catch to Mathurin after hitting the bowler for two consecutive fours. Jahmar Hamilton playing his first match of the tournament, tried to stabilise the innings but was out after the first rain break. Heavy rain forced the teams off the field after Hamilton's wicket. The umpires declared St Lucia winners as Antigua were 76 for 3, 17 runs behind the D/L par score of 93 after 10.4 overs.

Earlier St Lucia Zouks posted their highest total of the tournament, scoring a formidable 179 for 4. Opener Andre Fletcher played a pivotal knock for St Lucia, scoring 76 off 53 balls and adding useful partnerships with the middle-order batsmen. Fletcher's fourth-wicket stand of 59 off 34 balls with Darren Sammy took St Lucia's total past 150. The pair hit a few big shots but rotated the strike well. Fletcher's 76 included four fours and three sixes, while Sammy finished unbeaten on 35 off 20 balls with one four and three sixes.