Sheldon Cottrell and Dominic Drakes stitched an unlikely partnership with the bat, which culminated with Cottrell striking a six off the last ball for a dramatic win.
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St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (STKNP) pulled off a stunning victory over the Barbados Royals to remain undefeated in this season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). Sheldon Cottrell was the man who finished the chase with a six off the final ball of the match.
A remarkable night at Warner Park. A last ball six from @SaluteCotterell gives the Patriots five wins in five! #CPL21 #CricketPlayedLouder #SKNPvBR pic.twitter.com/K99yxtLuk6
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 3, 2021
STKNP needed four runs to win off the final delivery. Cottrell launched Ashley Nurse over long-off to finish with 20 not out from seven balls and spark wild celebrations from his teammates. The pacer claimed the Player of the Match award for his heroics. However, he could not have done it without Dominic Drakes’ contribution, having smashed 28 from 15 to give the Patriots a chance.
The Royals snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, with the Patriots 98 for 5 chasing 161. After brilliant spells from 20-year-old Nyeem Young and uncapped Englishman Jake Lintott, they had the game under control. Young bagged 3 for 26 while Lintott picked up 2 for 28 from four overs, including the key wickets of Chris Gayle and Sherfane Rutherford.
However, Drakes and Cottrell kept the game alive with some superb striking. Patriots needed 28 from 12 balls when Cottrell showed initiative against Jason Holder. He and Drakes took 18 from the over as the Royals skipper missed his lines and lengths, and was fortunate not to be called for a no-ball for a full toss above waist height.
Holder then took a gamble with Nurse for the last over, with just 10 runs needed to win despite Raymon Reifer and Oshane Thomas both having one over left. Nurse almost got Drakes but Holder couldn’t get to the catch at long on and it went through him for four. Drakes was then bowled out with five needed off three balls trying to hit the winning runs. Naseem Shah could have taken two off the penultimate ball but Cottrell turned down the second run putting the game on his shoulders. And he carried his side home with one of the best strikes of his career.
Earlier, Dwayne Bravo claimed 4 for 26 with the ball for the Patriots. Former India Under-19 cricketer Smit Patel held Royals’ innings together with a half-century on his CPL debut. He walked out at No. 3 after Shai Hope’s troubles continued. Patel struggled for fluency early on striking at less than a run-a-ball for the initial part of his innings, although he did produce a beautiful lofted on-drive for six in the Powerplay.
Paul van Meekeren proved difficult to hit with his extra bounce while Bravo produced some masterful slower balls. But in the 15th over, Patel’s graft paid off when struck three boundaries off Drakes. One came via an inside edge but he also manufactured a glorious drive and a reverse scoop.
Hope is CASTLED and Van Meekeren picks up the @fun88eng magic moment for match 14. #CPL14 #SKNPvBR #CricketPlayedLouder #FUN88 pic.twitter.com/BgLQkWZ3kT
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 3, 2021
Patel fell to Bravo in the 17th over. However, the Royals piled on 60 in the final 36 balls, with skipper Holder and Young managing to clear the ropes thrice in between them. It could have been more if Holder hadn’t been run out by Naseem’s direct hit from cover. In the end, it wasn’t enough.
