A fine all round effort from the Trinbago Knight Riders spoilt Crop Over celebrations for 5,000 Barbadians here, as they took their team to a seven-wicket victory over the Tridents at Kensington Oval in Barbados.
The overseas players Colin Munroe and Hashim Amla tamed the home team bowling attack and kept their team's chances of making the play-offs alive, as the visitors scored 68 and 31 respectively to give their team it's first ever victory over the Tridents at Kensington Oval.
Shoaib Malik 47, AB de Villiers 45 and Keiron Pollard 41 not out took Barbados to 172 for four off their 20 allotted overs but on a good batting strip it was always going to be difficult to defend.
William Perkins playing his first game in the tournament came out guns blazing and fired 23 of 16 balls, shooting three balls to the fence and one over it. Amla was playing the orchestrating role and when Munroe started to fire, the 50 came up after just five overs. At that point, Amla had not reached double figures but his role was clear.
Munroe was brilliant on the day as everything he tried came off and when he finally left for 68, the work was done. He faced just 39 deliveries, hitting two fours and sixes sixes. He continued his prolific run in the tournament, having scored a century and a fifty prior to this knock. Amla made 31 of 34 balls with a four and skipper Dwayne Bravo slapped 23 not out in 11 balls to bring home the win.
Earlier, Bravo won the toss and decided to send Tridents in to bat. Probably remembering the last two matches here, where his side was bowled out for 54 and restricted to 95 for nine.
The TKR bowlers were on spot during the powerplay and kept the Tridents openers in check. While Malik was smooth, American Steven Taylor was sluggish and soaked up a lot of deliveries. At the end of the powerplay the score was 32 and there were 19 deliveries that were unscored off.
The dismissal of Taylor for 13 of 21 balls proved to work in favour of his team, as de Villiers arrived to change the complex of the innings. Malik the technician was well into his work when de Villiers came in and together they got the Pride back into the game.
They added 60 runs in 42 balls as de Villiers thrilled the afternoon crowd with an array of innovative shots. Malik proved the perfect foil but his innings was cut short just before his half century. He was bowled by the clever Bravo for 47 of 44 balls with five fours.
Pollard arrived and creamed Bravo over long off for six, to signal he was on sound. He and de Villiers pushed the score to 147 and positioned the home team for a final flourish.
Spinner Sulieman Benn got the prize scalp of de Villiers for 45 which has a big say in the final total. After adding 49 runs with Pollard of only 21 balls, de Villiers left for 45 of 32 balls, five fours and a six.
Pollard finished strongly with 41 not out of 20 balls including five fours and three sixes but the final tally was always going to be under par for this pitch.