Brathwaite, Thomas punish Knight Riders

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC): wenty20 World Cup star Carlos Brathwaite shone with both bat and ball as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots inflicted reigning champions Trinbago Knight Riders with their second defeat of the Caribbean Premier League here late Saturday night.

Asked to chase a challenging 204 for victory at Queen’s Park Oval, TKR were held to 161 for eight off their allotted 20 overs, to slip to a 42-run defeat.

Sent in, Patriots racked up 203 for seven off their 20 overs with Man of the Match Devon Thomas top-scoring with 58 from 34 balls and Brathwaite bludgeoning a stunning 41 from a mere 15 deliveries.

They were backed up by an unusually sedate Chris Gayle, who made 35 from 30 balls, and Australian Ben Cutting, who chipped in with an unbeaten 25.

Fast bowler Ali Khan was outstanding with three for 23 from his four overs, while offspinner Sunil Narine finished with two for 24 from his full complement.

Left-hander

TEvin Lewis’ wretched form continued when he fell to the second ball of the match without scoring, pulling Ali Khan to Narine at midwicket; and when Tom Cooper was brilliantly caught one-handed at first slip by Dwayne Bravo three balls later, Patriots were three runs for two wickets.

Thomas arrived to add impetus to the innings, striking nine fours and a six as he added 66 for the third wicket with Gayle, and 39 for the fourth wicket with Anton Devcich (15).

When Thomas played on to Narine in the 14th over, Brathwaite took responsibility for the innings, blasting a four and five sixes in posting 60 for the seventh wicket with Cutting.

In reply, TKR slumped to 34 for three in the fourth over before Kevon Cooper, with an unbeaten 42, Darren Bravo with 41 and Colin Munro, 35, adding respectability to the innings.

Brathwaite proved miserly with his medium pace, finishing with two for 19 as Jeremiah Louis (2-42) and Cutting (243) also ended with two wickets apiece.