Kings vs Trinbago, 12th Match at Gros Islet, CPL, Sep 10 2024 - Ball by Ball Commentary

11pm That will be all from us for tonight. There is more CPL action lined up in the next few days and we hope to have your company for all of those matches. Until next time, this is goodbye from Shashwat, Raghav and Ranjith. Take care, everyone!

Kieron Pollard, the Trinbago Knight Riders is also the Player of the Match: (On the celebration) For someone who has played for the West Indies, captained them (the West Indies) and played a lot in St Lucia, for them to boo…Young Shaq (Parris), showing his worth from the first ball he faced, he set the tempo. He did not have a great day in the field. Everyone has roles and responsibilities, and if my role is to finish games, that is what I have to do. Love seeing the young guys (contribute). We continue to do that and until I call it quits, I'd like to do that (give opportunities to the youngsters). Very good game of cricket from both sides. It was a good wicket, felt 15-20 runs too many (conceded). Fielding (in that manner) is something that is unacceptable. Even senior guys dropping catches. We can be out-skilled but fielding is something we need to improve on. He showed again what a champion bowler he is. He has been consistent for us (at the death) throughout this campaign. (On the next game against the Barbados Royals) Looking forward to that. I have played there a long time.

Faf du Plessis, St Lucia Kings captain: Great game of cricket. Quality powerplay from both teams and I would have taken 190 - it was maybe five above what we thought we could get. We went for 70 in the first six and that is my one concern (from tonight). We stayed in the contest right till the end but unfortunately, that second-last over went for a few too many sixes. (On the dropped chances) Fielding at St Kitts and this one, with the lights and the dark skies, plus the breeze, you see a lot of dropped catches. We did a lot of things right tonight but the small margins, at the end of the day, when it is you against someone else…we were in the contest for 90% of the game but came up against a strong batting line-up. You look at all the positives and stay positive as a group. When you lose badly, you feel that a little more. When you play well, you walk off the field with your chin up.

Afeef: "Pollard did what he has been doing for over a decade. Always enjoy watching him at his best like this."

10:42pm A thrilling run-chase, headlined by Pollard, who wound back the clock and showed he's still got it. When he walked in to bat, the Knight Riders needed 65 off 40. They then needed 27 off 12 but Pollard barely batted an eye-lid. He picked his match-up, targeted the penultimate over and tore into Forde. Prior to that, Parris had enhanced an already burgeoning reputation, racing away to a 20-ball fifty that set the tone nicely for the visitors.

An indifferent outing with the ball for the Kings. They were good in patches but lacked the consistency to apply pressure. Their returns, especially in the first half of the TKR innings, were not great either and their response to Pollard taking them down was also not as swift or decisive as they would have wanted. Descarte, though, did pull through quite nicely and that, along with Noor's two-wicket haul, were perhaps bright spots in their bowling display.

Three needed off the final over, which will be bowled by Joseph. Surely this is the Knight Riders' game now?

Just eight needed off seven now

Pollard is hitting with the breeze to the leg side

27 off 12. The pressure is on. Pollard needs to find the fence a few times this over. Forde to bowl the penultimate over

31 needed off 18. A lot depends on Pollard now. Hosein is at the other end. Joseph to bowl the 18th

Gous joins his skipper