SLK VS SKN MATCH 21

That is it then from this game and for now, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have kept their playoff hopes alive. The action continues in the 2023 CPL as Trinbago Knight Riders take on Jamaica Tallwahs in Match number 22 on 10 September at 5.30 am IST (12 am GMT). Our build-up to that game though will begin much sooner. Till then, take care and goodbye!

Evin Lewis, the captain of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots says that it feels really good, to be honest, and they were trying to get their first win and finally managing to do it feels extra special. Adds that he is very happy with his bowlers as they used the wicket and executed perfect lengths. He then praises Ashmead Nedd and says he backs him in the Powerplay and he bowled really well. Mentions that Andre Fletcher is a top guy and never gives up and believes in himself. Further adds that he is trying hard for that big knock but they are going into the next game with high confidence and hopes to finish off with another win.

Saint Lucia Kings skipper, Sikandar Raza says that they were probably 10 runs short and were a bit under-par in the first 10 overs. Mentions that the opposition got off to a fast start and says that they were a few runs short with the bat. On Shadrack Descartes, he says that for a young guy, he runs well between the wickets and played a great knock. On Khary Pierre adds that he has done really well for them and even with the new ball he has been able to make an impact. Says that the wind plays an important factor and he gave Alzarri Joseph the 19th over as they wanted to get out Andre Fletcher and in the final over they wanted to make the batters hit into the wind to the spinner.

Andre Fletcher is adjudged the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his match-winning inning of 93* off 64 balls. Sherfane Rutherford collects the award on Fletcher's behalf and is down for a quick chat. Rutherford says that it was a special knock. Adds that there are one or two batters who are in form and Andre Fletcher is one of them and they finally get over the line. Says that it is a hamstring injury and he doesn't know how long will be out as he is receiving treatment from the physio. Ends by saying he is very relieved with the win.

The Presentation ceremony...

Earlier in the game, Evin Lewis won the toss and opted to bowl first and it proved to be a good decision as Ashmead Nedd bowled really well early on and it was hard to get the boundaries away. Johnson Charles did start off well and got into the 40s but slowed down and got out as well with the likes of Shadrack Descartes and Sikandar Raza working hard to get Saint Lucia Kings to around a score of 150 runs. Ashmead Nedd was the star with the ball with Benny Howell picking up a couple of crucial wickets as well. Coming to the chase, Andre Fletcher played a sensational innings to take St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to their first win.

Saint Lucia Kings had a chance to go top of the table with a win here but have not been able to beat an out-of-form St Kitts and Nevis Patriots side. They failed to put away the bad balls with the bat late in their innings and have now not been able to get the job done with the ball either. Khary Pierre was brilliant with his left-arm spin upfront and got wickets as well. Spin ruled the roster for Saint Lucia Kings and they seemed to be doing a decent job of containing the opposition but failed to get the wicket of Andre Fletcher and were down and out with a couple of overs to go. Alzarri Joseph bowled a sensational penultimate over giving away just a run but Roston Chase couldn't defend 8 runs in the final over.

THE WAIT IS FINALLY OVER! St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have at last got their first win of CPL 2023 and have done so in such dramatic fashion as well. Andre Fletcher with a sensational finish and the Patriots just about stay alive in the competition as well. After a good showing from the bowlers, the Patriots needed a steady start with the bat but lost their talismanic skipper Evin Lewis very early. Andre Fletcher though launched a stellar counter attack and even though they lost two more wickets, the run rate was good. Sherfane Rutherford then aided Fletcher a bit who brought up a half-century. There were a couple of other small cameos as well but under immense pressure Fletcher hit the ball over the ropes and got the win with a ball to spare.

SIX! SPICEMAN HAS DONE IT! Roston Chase drags is length back a bit, on leg, Andre Fletcher advances forward and tries to heave it away, his bottom hands comes off again but it has enough power to go over the deep mid-wicket fielder for a biggie. Fletcher punches the air in delight. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots win by 4 wickets!

Flatter, full and on off, Dominic Drakes miscues his slog to the left of the bowler where Roston Chase runs to that side but fumble a bit and allows the run. If he collected cleanly he could have run Drakes out on the bowler's end with a direct hit. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots one big hit away from the win now!

Dominic Drakes is the new man in.

OUT! TAKEN! Corbin Bosch tries to go big but holes out instead! This is tossed up, full and on middle, Corbin Bosch looks to slog-sweep it towards the deep mid-wicket fence and connects well too, but the wind holds the ball up a bit as Sean Williams there takes a fine catch under pressure. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots six down now and still need 7 runs in 3 balls. Can Dominic Drakes be the hero?

Quicker, short and on middle, Andre Fletcher mistimes his slog as his bottom hands comes off towards long on for a run.

Angles this one into the batter, on leg, Corbin Bosch uses his feet and tucks it through mid-wicket for just a single. Andre Fletcher need to hit a boundary now.

Four dots to end the over! Alzarri Joseph hits the hard length and around off, Andre Fletcher looks to smash it over covers but misses again. Did St Kitts and Nevis Patriots miss a trick by not retiring out Fletcher? They still need 9 runs in the last over.

Three dots in a row now! The pressure is building up. Alzarri Joseph nails the wide yorker, outside off, Andre Fletcher tries to dig it out but fails to connect again.

Another precious dot! This is short of a length and outside off, Andre Fletcher mistimes his punch towards covers.