Trinbago Knight Riders continued their hot streak in CPL 2025 with a sixth win in seven games that consolidates their position at the top of the table. The 12-run victory over St Kitts & Nevis Patriots also propelled them into the playoffs, charging up the quest for a fifth title.
Glory at their home ground of Brian Lara Stadium was orchestrated by veteran Kieron Pollard, who smashed 65 off just 29 balls to take TKR to 179. The hosts, who were asked to bat, endured a poor start as both Colin Munro and Alex Hales – fresh off a century stand in the last game – exited inside 25 balls of the innings.
Nicholas Pooran blazed off the blocks with three sixes off his first five balls, all in an over bowled by Ashmead Nedd, but the Patriots still managed to keep a lid on the scoring rate. When Darren Bravo’s drudgery ended at the half-way mark, the Knight Riders had only 78 on the board.
POLLY POWERRR!!! 💪🇹🇹
Kieron Pollard raises yet another CPL fifty! 🙌#CPL25 #CricketPlayedLouder#BiggestPartyInSport #TKRvSKNP #RepublicBank pic.twitter.com/huJek5r4cL
— CPL T20 (@CPL) September 1, 2025
Pollard’s entry changed the complexion of the game. The 38-year-old dominated a 90-run stand with his captain, an onslaught crammed with eight sixes, including four in a row against Waqar Salamkheil that brought up a 21-ball half-century. Despite Pollard and Pooran looking ominous the Patriots pulled back things well at the death, with Jason Holder dislodging both to walk away with excellent figures of 2 for 25.
Andre Fletcher and Evin Lewis built a 96-run opening stand in 10.4 overs to fire up the reply. Lewis eventually pulled a slower ball from Nathan Edward to Bravo while Alick Athanaze faced a string of dot balls as pressure began to mount on the chasing side.
Athanaze caved in, falling for a 14-ball 18 attempting to reverse scoop Mohammad Amir, leaving Patriots with 54 to get from the last five overs. Usman Tariq then nabbed the big fish Fletcher after the half-centurion missed an attempted hoick to the legside and lost his poles. Nathan Edward then struck off consecutive deliveries in the 17th over to leave Patriots needing 42 from 18 and once Holder fell in the penultimate over, the writing was on the wall.
