The Saint Lucia Kings concluded their home leg of this season’s Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a dominant victory over the Antigua & Barbuda Falcons on Sunday at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground (DSCG).
Currently sitting comfortably in second place on the CPL points table, the Kings are determined to secure a playoff spot after convincingly defeating the Falcons by 26 runs.
With four wins from six matches, the Kings are showcasing their strength in the tournament. Their upcoming matches against the Barbados Royals will be crucial in solidifying their position in the playoffs.
The Kings finished on a high note, much to the delight of a cheerful and supportive crowd at the DSCG on Sunday.
Playing before a massive home crowd, the Kings earned their fourth win from six matches, while the Falcons slipped to six losses in eight games.
Sent to bat, the Kings scored 152 for 8. With frontline batters Johnson Charles (25), Faf du Plessis (14), and Tim Seifert (13) back in the hut at 87 for 5 (12.2 overs), it was left to Ackeem Auguste (35 off 28) and David Wiese (43 from 26 deliveries) to push for a competitive total.
Falcons captain Chris Green was up to the task, picking up four for 22, while Shamar Springer’s 3 for 19 combined to offset the Kings’ batting power.
Chasing 153 for victory, the Falcons struggled and were at one point 28 for 5. Shamar Springer (23) and Green (43) rebuilt the innings by working the ball into the gaps, although the lack of boundaries meant that the Kings were never really pressured to defend their total.
Player of the Match, Khary Pierre, bagged three for 24, while Noor Ahmad’s two for 13 gave another consistent bowling performance for the Kings.
The Kings are currently positioned in second place on the CPL table with eight points and a Net Run Rate of 0.133. The Barbados Royals are on top with a net run rate of 0.920, while the Falcons have slipped to second from the bottom.
The St Lucia Kings will travel to Providence, Guyana, for back-to-back matches against the Barbados Royals on September 21 and 22.