AB de Villiers, after a couple of lean returns, smashed 63 off 33 balls to deliver a crushing win for Barbados.
Faf du Plessis‘ Patriots had produced an edgy target of 162, thanks mainly to Evin Lewis (50 off 33) and Jonathan Carter (41), but their cause had been undermined by a sterling performance from Wayne Parnell, who took 2-22, including Du Plessis (8) and Lendl Simmons (2), which had the Patriots at 2-21 after three overs. David Wiese cut the tail off, dismissing Carlos Brathwaite (14) and Thisara Perera (4) within four balls, ending with 2-14 off three.
The Tridents, though, were in a slightly precarious situation when they were held to 45-2 off seven, which included the wicket of Parnell (16 off 15).
Then De Villiers strode out to join Shoaib Malik and the two proceeded to destroy the Patriots’ bowling attack. They put on 63 in 6.3 overs before Shoaib fell to the leg spin of Samuel Badree. But at 103-3 with six overs to go, the pressure was off.
Kieron Pollard came out to join in the fun, adding 25 off 13 balls as De Villiers continued the rampage. He ended with five fours and three sixes in his unbeaten 63, as the pair put on 58 in 28 balls and took the Tridents to a seven-wicket victory with eight balls remaining.
Tabraiz Shamsi was one of the unfortunate bowlers, being hammered for 41 off his four overs, while the Warriors all-rounder Jon-Jon Smuts went for nine off his solitary over. He had earlier scored 14 off 12 (2×4).
Photo: Gallo Images
