The 2021 edition of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) started on Thursday with a double-header where the first game was played between Guyana Amazon Warriors (GAW) and Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR), while the second fixture took place between St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots (SNP) and Barbados Royals (BR).
In the opening game, th🦄e Warriors defeated reigning champions Knight Riders by nine runs courtesy of brilliant performances by Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Imran Tahir and Odean Smith.
It’s all over a🦩t Warner Park and the have won by 9 runs.
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
Put to bat first, Hetmyer scored a remarkable half-century to take his team’s total to 142/7 in their allotted 20 overs. Hetmyer smashed 54 runs off 41 balls with the help of six boundaries, including two sixes. Sunil Narine (2/17) and Akeal Hosein (2/17) were the pick of the bowlers for Knight Riders.
.'s 2/17 Dizzy symbol deserves the !
— Trinbago Knight Riders (@TKRiders)
In reply, the Kieron Pollard-led side could only manage to reach 133/9, losing the contest by nine runs. The trio of Shepherd, Tahir and Smith bowled outstandingly well to help the Warriors defend the paltry total. While Shepherd took three scalps for 15 runs in 3 overs, Tahir bagged a couple for 12 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Similarly, Smith picked up two wickets for 10 runs in 2 overs. Dinesh Ramdin, with 28 offꦍ 25 balls, was the top scorer fo𓃲r TKR.
In the second fixture, the Patriots registered a comfortable victory over the Royඣals by 21 runs.
End of the match. What a stupendous𓆉 start to our season with an AMAZING VICTOR💝Y! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Super job boys! Good game 🙌🏼
On to the next one! 💪🏼 🇰🇳
— SKNPatriots (@sknpatriots)
Asked to bat first, the Patriots posted a massive 175/5 on the scoreboard in their allotted 20 overs, thanks to crucial knocks by Sherfane Rutherford and captain Dwayne Bravo.
The C𓆏hamp is here!!! hits 1000 runs in CPL!!!
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
After losing four wickets for just 39 runs, Rutherford and Bravo steadied the💯 ship and put together a scintillating partnership of 115 runs for the fifth wicket.
Rutherford scored 53 from 43 deliveries, including 2 fours and 4 sixes. On theಌ other hand, Bravo remained unbeaten at 47 runs off 35 balls with the help of five boundaries, including four maximums.
He was stupen🥀dous. He was calculated. He was calm. And then he was🦩 RUTHLESS. Congratulations for scoring his first career half-century in and also becoming the Man of the Match.
— SKNPatriots (@sknpatriots)
In response, the Royals scored 154 runs with a loss of seven wickets in thꦜeir stipulated 20 overs, losing the contest by 21 ru💝ns.
Dominic Drakes was the main highlight in the bowling, who picked up a couple of scalps by just conceding 13 runs in his quota of 4 overs. Sheldon Cottrell also bagged two wickets, but he was way too expensive, giving away 39 runs in 4 overs. Shai Hope was the top scorer for the Royals. He ꧅made 44 runs from 3𒉰8 deliveries.
500 runs for in the @cplt20!! We look forward to many ma🌱ny moreꦐ with the Royals!👏🏽👏🏽
— Barbados Royals (@BarbadosRoyals)