TKR secure a nail-biting victory after a terrific all-round performance against the Royals | BR vs TKR Match Review

BR 156/7 in 20 Overs [Rovman Powell 59*(38); Waqar Salamkheil 3/13 in 4 Overs] lost to TKR 159/8 in 19.5 Overs [Nicholas Pooran 35(23); Maheesh Theekshana 3/26 in 4 overs)

The Trinbago Knight Riders clashed against the Barbados Royals in a much-anticipated game at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. Two in-form teams battled it out as TKR aimed to clinch back-to-back victories and pick up crucial two points. After a scintillating win the previous game, TKR were raring to go and deliver a strong performance in this all-important contest. The fans were eager to see their favourite team display a great show.

Skipper Kieron Pollard chose to bowl first after winning the toss on a pitch which has been ideal for chasing. TKR aimed to take the field with high intensity and looked to pick up early wickets and Akeal Hosein delivered just that in the first over itself. He knocked over Cornwall and Athaneze in his first 4 balls to put TKR in ascendancy. This set the tone for the other bowlers as they kept on bowling tight lines and building the pressure. De Kock and Clarke looked to build a partnership but once things looked to go BR’s way, the spin-twins Sunil Narine and Waqar Salamkheil picked up crucial wickets. The bowlers never allowed the BR batters to settle and score at a quick rate. The TKR spin quartet dominated the innings throughout and didn’t allow any respite to the opposition. The Royals stuttered to a below par total of 156 courtesy of a fighting knock from their skipper Rovman Powell. It was all upon the TKR batters now to chase down the total and pick up the win.

TKR didn’t have the best of starts to their run-chase as they lost both their openers early. However, young Shaqkere Parris stepped up yet again alongside Nicholas Pooran to stitch the all important partnership. TKR motored along in the run-chase with this partnership but were halted due to Pooran’s wicket. But Keacy Carty stepped right in and swung back the momentum towards TKR. The pair looked in control as they kept rotating the strike and inched closer to the target, however the BR spinners triggered another middle order collapse for TKR. All the momentum was lost as TKR lost 4 quick wickets and the target looked far away. This run-chase of twists and turns, saw another big turn as Akeal Hosein stepped up with the bat and scored the crucial runs to take the chase right till the end and Terrence Hinds displayed his muscle to smash a six to finish the run-chase off in the most outstanding fashion. TKR’s lower order stepped up & won this game when all seemed lost. An absolute treat of contest ended with TKR clinching the victory and reigning supreme against the Royals.