CPL 2022 week three: Holder sparkles for high-flying Royals, Kings soar despite David's absence
A round-up of all the thrills and spills from the Trinidad leg of CPL 2022
Jason Holder picked up six wickets in three games during the Trinidad leg of CPL 2022 • CPL T20 via Getty Images
After finishing rock-bottom in CPL 2021, Barbados Royals have scripted a remarkable turnaround by becoming the first team to advance to the playoffs this season. With a 29-run victory via DLS method against Guyana Amazon Warriors, Royals not only sealed a playoffs spot but also ensured they will finish top in the league stage and get two cracks at the final.
Role clarity, strong powerplay and other reasons why Barbados Royals are ruling CPL 2022
CPL week one: Bravo's Patriots outplayed, Powell's class act, Hosein's injury scare
CPL 2022 week two: Unstoppable Royals, unconvincing Knight Riders
Evin Lewis returns to West Indies squad for T20 World Cup; Russell, Narine left out
Despite the absence of Tim David, who has now linked up with the Australia team in India, St Lucia Kings won both their games in the Trinidad leg. Adam Hose, David's replacement, didn't do much, but Kings' seniors stepped up to brush aside Patriots and then edge Trinbago Knight Riders by one run.
Johnson Charles celebrated his call-up for the T20 World Cup with back-to-back half-centuries. He was particularly aggressive against elite spin, taking on Rashid Khan, Sunil Narine and Akeal Hosein. During his 41-ball 61 against Patriots, Charles also surpassed Chris Gayle to become the second-highest run-getter in the history of the CPL.
Holder claimed six wickets across three games in Trinidad, with his sparkling all-round effort against Amazon Warriors putting Royals in the playoffs. Holder was promoted to No.5, ahead of Azam Khan, who is also a spin-hitter, and captain Miller, and responded with an unbeaten 40 off 33 balls on a tough pitch in a rain-hit fixture. No other batter scored more than 20 runs in that game. Holder was not done yet: he tricked pinch-hitter Keemo Paul with a slower ball and came away with figures of 2-0-8-1. It was a week where Holder cemented his status as one of West Indies' top allrounders in T20 cricket.
Which one of the spinning Sinclairs does it better? #CPL22 #CricketPlayedLouder #BiggestPartyInSport pic.twitter.com/tHfmodSEve
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 18, 2022
In only his second official T20 game, offspinner Junior Sinclair collected 2 for 12 in his four overs. After having Mayers hole out, Sinclair celebrated with a gravity-defying somersault, which reminded Caribbean fans of the other Sinclair's - Kevin - signature celebration. Disclaimer: Don't try this at home.
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo