Did the Saint Lucia Kings Secure Their First CPL Win in a Last Ball Thriller?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Saint Lucia Kings won by three runs against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.
- Roston Chase was pivotal with both bat and ball.
- The match concluded on the final delivery, highlighting the competition's intensity.
- Tim David's catch was crucial for securing the win.
- The Kings now lead the CPL standings based on net run rate.
Basseterre, Aug 20 (NationPress) The defending champions, Saint Lucia Kings, triumphed over the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by a mere three runs in a nail-biting finish at Warner Park, securing their inaugural victory in the Caribbean Premier League early Wednesday morning.
After losing the toss and being asked to bat first, Saint Lucia Kings amassed 200 runs in their innings, bolstered by explosive half-centuries from Johnson Charles and Roston Chase, along with a rapid 46 runs off just 23 balls from Tim David. Charles contributed 52 runs off 28 deliveries, setting a solid foundation for SLK.
A remarkable debut from Breakout League selection Navin Bidaisee kept the Patriots in the game as they pursued the Kings' target, aiming to chase down the score of 200/8.
The match reached a thrilling climax on the final ball, where Bidaisee and the Patriots needed four runs to clinch victory off David Wiese's last delivery. Wiese had bowled well throughout the over but faltered slightly on the final ball, delivering a hittable yorker.
Bidaisee attempted to push the ball towards the boundary at long-off, but the towering Tim David executed a stunning catch, ensuring victory for the Kings by three runs and leaving the Patriots heartbroken.
For Saint Lucia Kings, both captain David Wiese and Khary Pierre took two wickets each.
Roston Chase was awarded the Player of the Match for his 61 runs off 38 balls and his impressive bowling figures of 2-27, where his crafty spin proved economical, taking out Rilee Rossouw and Patriots' captain Jason Holder.
“It was a bit nerve-racking. I think we made it a hard victory. I thought we could have won it a bit more outright, but I’m still grateful for the two points,” Chase reflected post-match.
This defeat left the Patriots with only one win in four matches, suffering three consecutive losses. Meanwhile, the Kings ascended to the top of the CPL standings based on net run rate, despite their initial match against the Falcons being called off due to rain.
Earlier, SLK's first match was abandoned because of heavy rain on Monday. They are set to take on the Trinbago Knight Riders next early Sunday.