Zouks vs Trinbago, Final at Tarouba, CPL, Sep 10 2020 - Match Result

2.20 pm: That Ian Bishop post-match interview with Pollard sort of ended a mite early - because the rest of the team was gathered around the trophy and chanting loudly, 'We want Polly'! Celebrations on in full swing for TKR, which is an apt note to end things on. On behalf of Peter, Raghav and Thilak, goodbye from us. It's been a great tournament and it's been held amid a raging pandemic, which is a miracle perhaps greater than winning 12 out of 12 games in a very competitive T20 tournament.

Kieron Pollard: Great, great feeling. We have worked really really hard. When we sat in the dressing room last year you could have seen the disappointment (after losing in the semifinals). We had rigorous conversations. And the mentality the guys came through even before the camp, this was destined to happen. They always wanted to improve every game. Total, total team effort. We knew they (Zouks) were going to come hard, they had a lot of confidence from the semi-final. But that's where we used our experience. We knew in the team Bravo wasn't going to bowl but just having him in the field was a boost. We said we're not going to play the pitch or the conditions, we're going to play the round, white ball. We knew that each time we set up the game, we will finish well. We had the power in our line-up. Each and every one who came in did their role. The guys believed in what we wanted to achieve. It would have been brilliant if the fans were here but we know what's going on (the pandemic). We hope we entertained each and every one.

Daren Sammy: We thought we were about 15-20 runs short from the start we had. Plus we didn't complete our batting innings and when you play against a side like TKR you have to make sure you at least make full use of your overs. But we still felt we had enough when we put them under pressure in the first six overs. But these guys, Bravo and Simmons, have played so much together, they absorbed the pressure and put it back on us. Of course when you lose a final you think about things you could have done differently. Maybe I should have been more sure about the decision I wanted to take towards the end. But we've been resilient, we showed commitment and we played a brand of cricket that shows you don't need superstars. For 8 years we have been trying to get to the final and we got here. I think we really pushed TKR in all three games we played against them in the tournament and I'm really proud of that. The message from the last few days is we never quit. The whole nation was behind us. We're very disappointed but we have shown that if we play a brand of cricket we'll get results. I think we've put our hands up this tournament. Congratulations to Kieron Pollard and his team and I really want to thank CPL to have cricket in this time. We created an opportunity in the Caribbean for people to smile. And thanks to my team for the way they have turned up.

2.10 pm: And presentation time now.

The CPL gave USD 50 for every six hit in the tournament towards covid relief efforts to those working on the frontline. A sizeable USD 18,000 has been raised.

Kieron Pollard is the Man of the Tournament:Fantastic. Thanks to my team, they came out each and everytime and performed. This one is more special for me. I take it upon myself, I had to work on some things, had to improve my game from things that were missing in the last year and a half. And the results have been incredible. (on bowling) Some teams you play six or seven bowlers and they are main bowlers so you step aside and let them do their thing. My bowling had fallen off a bit but I know what I can do. I don't have pace, I don't have swing, I don't have swing, but I used the angles. Me and the team know why Bravo didn't bowl but it's a psychological advantage having him on the field.

Lendl Simmons is the Man of the Match: Me and Bravo batted well together. We knew that if we bat deep, we'll get the score. We have a strong bench and anyone can perform well. All the players got a chance to play at parts of the tournament and all did well. Last year I did well but then didn't do well in the semi-final and we lost the game, so I wanted to take the responsibility this time. It was a good batting track.

1.54 pm: Presentations yet to come, but just take a moment to allow TKR's feat to sink in. 12 matches straight through a tournament in a format like T20 is unheard of. And to repeat myself, they won this final with Sunil Narine absent, with Dwayne Bravo not bowling and with Kieron Pollard not batting.

Satyajeet: "A team has created history by remaining undefeated throughout the tournament in such a challenging format. Hats off to Baz for the coaching and the entire team for sticking to the "plan" !!"

Bhakta Yonghang: "Congrats to TKR, no hard feelings Zouks, we have lost to a team, who did not lost a single match this seasons. Thank you CPL giving us some entertaintment during this pandemic. And thank you Cricinfo as well."

Brendon McCullum: Incredibly special. They just work so hard, care about each other, understand their responsibilities. To be honest I didn't hav eto do a lot. The fire was burning in these guys from last year when we finished third. The way we exited this tournament last year hurt these guys immensely. We were really well led by Polly and DJ. They were in the same category, they work off the same song sheet. After my first year as a coach I got some nice feedback from the guys about where I could get better and this year we hit the sweet spot of challenging the guys but also being supportive all through.

Dwayne Bravo: This is for the people of Trinidad and Tobago, we know it's a tough time around the world now. We have all the talent here, all the ability here and it's about time people show respect to us as a nation. The way Lendl Simmons and Darren Bravo took the game till the end, totally dominated. I'm very happy with the way we beat St Lucia Zouks. (And now Bravo sings a bit of a rap ditty, which I'll need subtitling for if I have to bring it to you).

Sunil Narine: It means a lot. I would rather not play and we win. I would have loved to play but couldn't. We went from strength to strength. I think winning the title without losing a game hasn't been done, so history was driving us.

1.36 pm: Well Trinbago Knight Riders have fairly scorched the field in this tournament. They won this final with Sunil Narine absent, with Dwayne Bravo not bowling and with Kieron Pollard not batting. Amazing. Zouks started well, but then Pollard came to the fore with the ball to rein them in. Then Zouks started well with the ball but Simmons kept the run-rate going. Darren Bravo struggled early on then brought out the booming sixes and victory came in a flourish.

TKR playes are ringing the boundary ready to rush in

Dave: "And the hundred parthnership has come and gone no one really noticed was 19/2 when bravo came in"

- Indeed. Got rather lost in the rain of sixes didn't it...

Piyush: "This is reminiscent of WI batting against India at Wankhede in 2016 World T20 semifinal! Monstrous six hitting!!"

Ritesh: "What a campaign and what a final match performance by TKR... No bowling fromof DJ Bravo , Sunil Narain's absence in this crunch match and still they win it so convincingly... Hats off"

Run a ball needed now. 18 off 18.

41 off 24 needed now. Just 4 runs came off that last over. Pressure back on the batsmen now. Win probability has gone to 46.15. This will be a crucial over. Zahir Khan to bowl. Gets a pat on the shoulder and some advice from Sammy.

Kuggeleijn coming on now I think. Yes he is. 45 needed from 30.

M.A.N: "I think Williams 15th over is due to miscalculation by Sammy... 6 overs left ... 1 for Nabi 2 for Kuggelign and 3 for Zahir makes it 6 proper overs"