Another rampant performance by AB de Villiers saw the Barbados Tridents to another victory in the CPL, against Faf du Plessis’ Patriots.
His 82 off 54 balls, which included nine fours and three sixes, not only helped set a target of 180, but it hauled the Tridents out of deep trouble when they were reeling at 29-3 in the sixth over.
AB stepped up to do what he does best, shrugging off the scoreboard pressure to anchor a partnership of 60 with Nicholas Pooran who hammered 38 off 19, with four sixes, three of which came off Jon-Jon Smuts‘ only over.
De Villiers was able to open up after that, putting on 83 with Kieron Pollard, who contributed a more leisurely 27 off 21. De Villiers finally fell to Sheldon Cottrell, one of his three victims, while Tabraiz Shamsi weighed in with 1-32 off four.
In return Smuts (13 off 8, 3×4) and Lendl Simmons (18) put on 35 in three overs, and Du Plessis valiantly tried to keep up the momentum with 42 off 34 (5×4). But once he was bowled by Raymon Riefer, playing across the line, the innings fell away to 155-6, with Wayne Parnell taking 1-26 off four.
Across the pond, in England, Alviro Petersen produced a brilliant innings in a losing cause for Lancashire against Derbyshire in the T20 Blast. He smashed 79 off just 49 balls,with five fours and three sixes.
He and Luis Reece (33 off 22) put on 68 in seven overs for the opening stand, and Liam Livingstone contributed 16 off 12 to take the score to a healthy 106 for two after 12 overs.
The stage was set for a blast, but after Petersen and Steven Croft put on 51 in five overs for the fourth wicket, Lancashire imploded. Petersen fell with the score on 157, but thereafter no one was up for the fight. Five wickets fell for 10 runs, with medium pacer James Neesham the main beneficiary, ending with 4-35.
Hamish Rutherford (47) and Wes Durston (51) set off at pace, putting on 75 in the powerplay and breaking the back of the chase.
Tridents vs Patriots scorecard
Derbyshire vs Lancashire scorecard
Photo: CPL/Sportsfile