Patriots vs Royals, 10th Match at Basseterre, CPL 2023, Aug 26 2023 - Match Result

That's that then. Join us tomorrow for the double-header. For the moment, this is Rvel Zahid saying goodbye on behalf of Thilak Rama.

Sherfane Rutherford, Patriots Captain representing Lewis: (Lewis) is icing an injury. I don't think we executed our plans well and as a team we know that. We were in the game but I didn't think we executed well. We need to go back to the drawing board. We still have a long way to go and hopefully we'll come back as a team. I think we were short by 20-25 runs, because it was a good wicket but given that in any tournament ,bowlers who can win tournaments. I didn't think we didn't executed well and hit the marks as much we wanted to. I think we lost because of our bowling. You got to use the slower ones, even wide yorkers, straight yorker slower ones; I didn't think we bowl that much. We didn't do that much. It's a learning for us. For (Young) it's just about holding your nerve and back yourself...it's always pressure bowling last over but it works well if you stick to your plans as long as possible, if it goes then you can always say you will try again.

Rovman Powell, Royals Captain: I think the execution was pretty good, having said that we could have improved our death bowling a little bit more. I think the guys are learning and that is the important thing. (On giving Young last over instead of Holder) It was me playing what's going on...He bowled a pretty good over before that so I decided to give him the next one. Those things do happen, it's just for me to go back and I want to keep supporting him; he is still a youngster. Last over can be harsh but those things build character. Once Cornwall bats for four or five overs, that's job done because he's going to do what he did today. We know it's a good outfield with small boundaries so bowlers are under pressure. Once we got to a good score in powerplay and when we got to 100 in 10 overs, it was game on. It's difficult to captain with boundaries of different sizes. I was very clear and I knew exactly what I wanted to do and knew exactly which bowlers to attack and it worked in my favor. I knew if I go through the leg spinner then I could kill the fast bowlers on this kind of wicket. I bowled only one over of my left-arm spinner today because they had many left-handers. It's difficult to manage bowlers when they have so many left-right combinations.

Qais Ahmad, Player of the Match: I am so happy for the match and my performance. Coach and captain told me you are the main bowler and pitch is good so try your best...I did that and it worked. Condition is good for batting but I try to bowl at right lines and lengths. No back flip celebration anymore just raising my finger (chuckles).

Royals have made a big statement with a smooth chase. Spin wizardry of Qais Ahmed, who picked up two wickets and conceded a meager 16 runs in his spell was an important turning point of this match. He got good support from Jason Holder, but the response from the batters was really good and made the difference in the end. Rahkeem Cornwall used his bat like a swinging door and raced to 38 off just 15 balls, providing an explosive start and getting them off to a flyer, which is always important while chasing a big total. Kyle Mayers was ultra-aggressive as well, and together the opening pair put up a 50 stand to set a perfect platform for the lower-order batters. The middle order didn't fail to capitalize on the blistering start. Rovman Powell's staggering 67 off 29 and their top order just sealed the deal despite going through a little scare in the middle overs, but they were never really perturbed much. Powell's blazing half-century was really the key innings that helped them reach the target with nine balls to spare