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, the⛦ Warriors defeated reigning champions Knight Ride▨rs by nine runs courtesy of brilliant performances by Shimron Hetmyer, Romario Shepherd, Imran Tahir and Odean Smith.
It’s all over at Warner Park and the have won𝕴 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 Ramdin𝓡, with 28 off 25 balls, was the top scorer for TKR.
In the second fixture, the Patriots registered a comfortable vꦬictory over the Royal✤s by 21 runs.
End of the match. What a stupen๊dous start to our season with an AMAZING VICTORY! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🦹🏼
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 Champ is here!!! hits 1000 runs in 🦹CPL!!!
— CPL T20 (@CPL)
After losing four wickets for just 39 runs, Rutherford and Bravo steadied t⭕he ship and put together a scintillating partnership of 115 runs for the fifth wicket.
Rutherford scored 53 from 43 deliveries, includingꩲ 2 fours and 4 sixes. On the other hand, Bravo remained unbeaten at 47 runs off 35 balls with the help of five boundaries, including four maximums.
He was stupendous. 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 sᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚeven wickets in their stipulated 20 overs, losing the contest by 21 runs.
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 tඣhe top scorer for the Royals. He made 44▨ runs from 38 deliveries.
500 run🌌s for in the @cplt20!! We look💝 forward to many many more with the Royals!👏🏽👏🏽
— Barbados Royals (@BarbadosRoyals)
