BASSETERRE, St Kitts, CMC – A rapid William Perkins half-century condemned St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to a six-wicket defeat here yesterday, as the hosts struggled with their second game in 24 hours at Warner Park.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Patriots mustered just 146 all out off 40 overs, with Devon Thomas lashing 44 from 23 deliveries and Shane Dowrich getting 22 from 20 balls.
Seamer and captain Dwayne Bravo crippled the innings with a haul of four for 29 as Patriots stumbled and stuttered throughout their innings following a dodgy start.
In reply, Perkins smashed 64 not out off 43 balls with three fours and five sixes, as Red Steel reached their target in the penultimate over.
South African Cameron Delport stroked 38 off 31 balls while fellow countryman Jacques Kallis scored 23 from 20 balls.
The result lifted Red Steel off the bottom of the standings to fifth, just two points clear of the now bottom placed Guyana Amazon Warriors, last year’s losing finalists.
Patriots remained in second but on eight points alongside top-placed title-holders, Barbados Tridents, and the third placed Jamaica Tallawahs.
Back on the field again after beating St Lucia Zouks on Friday night, Patriots lost both openers Martin Guptill (16) and Evin Lewis (10) in successive overs with the score on 28. They crawled to 55 for three after ten overs for the further loss of Orlando Peters who was run out for eight in the ninth over, with the score on 45.
Going absolutely nowhere, Patriots were then lifted by Thomas who slammed a four and four sixes, before he perished off the last ball of the innings. Red Steel got off to a rollicking start, with Kallis banging five fours before flicking left-armer Sohail Tanvir to Shahid Afridi at short fine leg, at 30 for one in the fifth over.
Perkins took charge, however, anchoring two stands to ensure Red Steel claimed the points. He put on 70 for the second wicket with Delport who slammed three fours and two sixes, before adding a further 34 for the third with Darren Bravo who made just eight.
