CPL 2021: Drakes clinches title for Patriots

Courtesy a sublime batting display by Dominic Drakes, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots lifted the Caribbean Premier League 2021 title by beating Saint Lucia Kings in the final by three wickets.

Dwayne Bravo’s men did not wait for the post-match ceremony to get their hands on the coveted CPL title after chasing 160.

Naseem Shah and co cheered with the Pats fans as they cherished the big win by circling Warner Park.

Drakes hammers Kings balling line-up

The Caribbean star went for 38 runs in three overs, but he made amends with the bat in the second innings.

With nine remaining in the last bowler, Drakes took the matter into his own hands.

He finished the job on the last ball.

His 48* of 24 brought the Pats back into the game after Joshua Da Silva and Sherfane Rutherford threw away their wickets.

Paul’s late cameo gives Kings boost

The pitch had more to offer for the spinners.

When Fabian Allen and Fawad Ahmed kept it tight, the St Lucia Kings batters had a difficult time middling the ball.

Roston Chase and Rahkeem Cornwall’s absence at the death meant that the finalists had to rely on Keemo Paul.

The bowling all-rounder struck 39 off 21 at a time when the Kings were struggling to score past 150.

His late blitz helped the team set up the tricky total.

In the end, he fell prey to Naseem Shah who had a fiery send-off for the Kings’ star.

The teenage pace sensation made a solid case for his T20 debut for Pakistan with his match-winning bowling spells.

His 2-26, including a super over, first restricted the Kings batters from utilizing the powerplay and later withstood their attack in the death overs.

Allen turns up again

Fabian Allen has been Bravo’s go-to man in crunch situations.

With the ball, the West Indian all-rounder conceded only 17 runs in his quota of four overs.

He also uprooted Rahkeem Cornwall’s stumps just when the Kings power-hitter was gearing up to set up a huge total.

He then chipped in 20 runs with the bat as well.

His contributions may have gone unnoticed, but the player has been making a name for himself in T20 cricket.

His stock in franchise cricket must have gone higher after a complete performance throughout the entire CPL 2021 campaign.

Chase – the Kings’ backbone

When it comes to all-round performance, no one comes close to Roston Chase.

First, he added an instrumental partnership with Cornwall and chipped in a patient 43-run knock.

He then picked Chris Gayle’s scalp to send the Universe Boss back to the hut on a duck.

He has been consistently contributing with the bat and ball throughout the CPL 2021.

He has been playing his game according to pitch conditions, going for maximums as well as playing with soft hands when there’s no need to rush.

Not to forget that he took a fabulous catch to dismiss in-form Evin Lewis today.

But his efforts went in vain as the Kings lost their second CPL final in a row.

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 160 for 7 (Drakes 48*, Da Silva 37) beat Saint Lucia Kings 159 for 7 (Chase 43, Cornwall 43) by three wickets.