Shadab, Searles guide Knight Riders to victory

The victory at the Queen’s Park Oval in St Clair was TKR’s second win in as many matches, which moved them to the top of the table on net run-rate ahead of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots.

The four-wicket victory was a far cry from the crushing win by the Knight Riders over the Stars in the opening match of the CPL on Friday in St Lucia. On that day St Lucia posted 132 for nine, before Trinbago raced to 137/1 in 10.4 overs.

Monday’s match seemed to be a repeat of the opening contest when the Knight Riders restricted Stars to 118/9. However, a destructive spell of bowling from veteran off-spinner Shane Shillingford ensured the Knight Riders had to work for the win.

After opener Sunil Narine was dismissed for a quick-fire 11 with the score on 12, the New Zealand pair of Colin Munro and Brendon McCullum guided TKR to a comfortable 33/1 in the third over. McCullum, who struck three sixes, was caught by Jesse Ryder for 19 off nine deliveries to give Shillingford his first scalp.

Munro (one) was given leg before attempting a reverse sweep, before Darren Bravo (one) was bowled as Shillingford continued to have his way.

Shillingford also bowled Ramdin for 13 to get his fourth wicket as TKR were reduced to 52/5 in the seventh over. TKR captain Dwayne Bravo and Khan mounted a comeback with a 23-run partnership before fast bowler Mitchell McClenaghan uprooted the captain’s middle stump with a yorker.

Searles and Khan then joined forces with the score on 75/6 after 9.3 overs. Needing 44 from 63 balls, Khan and Searles continously rotated the strike to keep the required run rate below six runs an over. With 20 runs required for victory Searles entertained with back-to-back sixes off McClenaghan, before steering a ball down to third man for four in the same over as TKR got to 120/6 in 15.4 overs. Searles ended on 27 not out off 20 balls with two sixes and two fours, while Khan’s unbeaten 30 off 33 deliveries comprised one six and one four.

Earlier, a brilliant bowling performance by TKR left the Stars hurting at the halfway stage. The spin trio of Khary Pierre (4-1-15- 1), Khan (4-0-16-1) and Narine (4-0-17-1) all kept the scoring down, while Kevon Cooper (4- 0-21-3) and Dwayne Bravo (3-0- 33-2) were the chief wicket takers.

After progressing to 45/1, the Stars lost wickets regularly with saw them limp to a modest 118/9.

Andre Fletcher top scored with 40, while Stars captain Darren Sammy scored 25.

Today, TKR will face Jamaica Tallawahs at the Queen’s Park Oval from 8 pm.