The Trinbago Knight Riders will be looking to get it right when they meet Barbados Tridents in their second match of the 2016 Hero CPL at 9pm tonight at the Queen's Park Oval.
The defending champions disappointed a near packed Oval on Wednesday night, falling to St. Lucia Zouks by six wickets.
A combination of poor bowling and tremendous dew on an already damp outfield, led to the downfall of Dwayne Bravo's men.
Batting first, they tallied 162 for six in their 20 overs with Darren Bravo hitting the top score of 63 of just 44 balls with two fours and four sixes.
With three spinners in their ranks, the local franchise found it difficult to defend this total. Johnson Charles and Australian Shane Watson ensured it stayed that way with a rapid 47 in five overs. Skipper Bravo dismissed Watson for 16 but Charles and fellow West Indies opener Andre Fletcher silenced the crowd with their raw power.
When Johnson's work was finished at 52 runs of 36 balls with six fours and a six, the match was as well. Fletcher carved 23 and South African David Miller announced his arrival in the region with an unbeaten 33 of 20 balls with four fours and a six.
Bravo and Sunil Narine, back in red, claimed two wickets apiece in the losing effort.
Earlier, Darren Sammy won the toss and put Trinbago Knight Riders in to bat. Brendon McCullum started in his usual aggressive manner but his innings was cut short by spinner Derone Davis who got one to bounce and turn, which was snapped up by Darren Sammy at slip.
Fellow opener Hashim Amla showed the value of experience and thrilled the audience with some classy strokes while New Zealander Colin Munroe at the other end was more interested in muscling the ball and fell for 11.
However, when Amla fell for 26 from 21 balls with two fours and a six–the Zouks were well and truly in the game with the score 58 for three in nine overs.
Darren Bravo and Umar Akmal repaired the damage and took their team to a position of strength. The two ran quickly between the sticks and although timing the ball was difficult, they added 66 runs in 8.2 overs. Akmal made 30 of 28 deliveries with two fours and a six.
Darren Bravo continued and despite the loss of his brother Dwayne cheaply for one, was still able to take his team to a fighting total. He finished strongly with two sixes off Australian Shane Watson, who had put the brakes on during the final few overs.
SCOREBOARD
?Trinbago Knight Riders vs Zouks
Knight Riders inns
B McCullum c Sammy b Davis 12
H Amla c Mayers b Kumar 26
C Munroe c Sammy b Watson 11
D Bravo not out 63
U Akmal c & b Watson 30
DJ Bravo c Miller b Morkel 1
K Cooper c Miller b Watson 1
S Narine not out 0
Extras 4b, 3lb, 4w 11
Total for 6 wkts (20ovs) 162
Fall of wkts: 14, 38, 58, 124, 131,149,
Bowling: M Morkel 4-0-41-1, K Mayers 3-0-16-0, D Davis 2-0-14-1, S Watson 4-0-26-3, N Kumar 3-0-21-1, K Ramsaran 2-0-16-0, D Sammy 2-0-15-0.
Zouks inns
S Watson c Narine b Bravo 16
J Charles c McCullum b Narine 52
A Fletcher c Akmal b Narine 23
M Hussey b Bravo 15
D Miller not out 33
D Sammy not out 11
Extras 1lb, 1nb, 11w 14
Total for 4 wkts (19.1ovs) 164
Fall of wkts: 47, 93, 104, 147.
Bowling: N Miller 3-0-21-0, K Cooper 4-0-28-0, D Bravo 4-0-43-2, S Narine 4-0-25-2, R Beaton 2.1-0-32-0, S Benn 2-0-14-0.
Result: Zouks won by 4 wkts.
Man of the match: Johnson Charles