Colin Munro’s 48-ball 68 powered Trinbago Knight Riders to a record-breaking 100-run win over St Lucia Stars.
In Wednesday’s CPL 2018 opener, Munro slammed nine fours and a six in an exhilarating inning as Trinbago piled on 195-6 in their 20 overs. Denesh Ramdin added even greater firepower at the end of the innings with a frantic, undefeated 50 off just 27 balls (two fours, four sixes, S/R 185.18).
Javon Scantlebury-Searles made every ball count in the last over, hitting two fours and a single off the three balls he faced to end undefeated on nine runs (strike-rate 300.00). Ramdin hit a six and took a single off the last two balls of that final over bowled by Kesrick Williams. His first three overs had cost just 11 runs, so conceding 17 off his fourth and final over ruined his match figures.
Mitchell McClenaghan (2-30, econ 7.50), Williams (2-28, econ 7.00) and Kieron Pollard (2-22, econ 7.33) shared the wickets and were also the most economical with the ball, while three of their teammates went at over 12 runs to the over.
Colin Munro made our play of the day spectacular from match 1 #CPL18 #Biggestpartyinsport pic.twitter.com/ZGKyk4mM2U
— CPL T20 (@CPL) August 9, 2018
Facing a mammoth chase, the Stars got off to a great start, with Andre Fletcher and David Warner adding 35 for the first wicket in under three overs, but by the end of the eighth over they slumped to 53-6. Fletcher top-scored with 19 off 11 balls (one four, two sixes, S/R 172.72), while opening partner Warner’s struggles with the bat continued, as he fell for nine runs off nine balls.
Kieron Pollard (12) and Qais Ahmad (14) were the only other batsmen to reach double figures as the Stars crashed to 95 all out in 17.3 overs.
Shannon Gabriel was the only bowler to go for more than five runs to the over, while Fawad Ahmed (3-16, econ 4.00) and Dwayne Bravo (3-11, econ 3.66) were the destroyers-in-chief for Trinbago.
The defeat was only the third time in CPL history that a team has been beaten by 100 runs or more, and the Stars haven’t won a game since 2016, a winless streak that has now stretched to 12 matches. Five dropped catches didn’t help their cause, but neither did a hapless display with the bat. If the players don’t find their feet fast it will be a long tournament for them.
Munro took the Man of the Match honours for his quickfire 68 at the top of the innings for Trinbago.
‘The last thing my daughter told me was “win a trophy”. This is probably a better gift,’ laughed Munro, clutching his prize, a bottle of 21-year-old rum. ‘Been given the license to go out and play. Comes off sometimes, doesn’t at other times. Ramdin coming out and [the way he] played like he did, always helps. This is pretty close to a complete performance.’
Photo: Ashley Allen – CPL T20/Getty Images
