(CMC) – The St. Lucia Kings became the second team to qualify for the playoffs in the Caribbean Premier League, following a crushing seven-wicket victory over leaders Barbados Royals at the National Stadium in Providence yesterday.
In a dominant display, the Kings, thanks to an all-round masterclass from Roston Chase and a four-wicket haul from Alzarri Joseph, secured their fifth win of the campaign and joined the Royals on ten points atop the standings.
The Royals struggled from the outset and were restricted to a paltry 96-9, setting the stage for the Kings to chase down the target with 37 balls to spare.
Barbados Royals captain Rovman Powell’s decision to bat first quickly turned into a nightmare, as Joseph wreaked havoc in his very first over.
He clean-bowled in-form opener Quinton de Kock for two runs and then had Rahkeem Cornwall mistiming a shot and was caught for two, giving the Kings a flying start.
Roston Chase then joined the action, dismissing Kadeem Alleyne for four to leave the Royals reeling at 13-3 in the third over. Things worsened when Powell fell to Joseph for just one run, with the Royals managing only 28 runs in the powerplay.
The middle overs offered no respite for the Royals, as Chase and Noor Ahmad continued to pick apart the batting lineup.
At 50-7, hopes of a recovery faded fast, though David Miller (21) and Jason Holder (21) provided some resistance, ensuring the Royals weren’t bowled out.
Maheesh Theekshana added a last-ball six to the total, but 96-9 was never going to be enough as Joseph finished with four for 22 and Chase three for 18.
Theekshana gave the Royals a glimmer of hope with a wicket-maiden after Jason Holder had dismissed Johnson Charles early in the chase for 6.
But Faf du Plessis quickly put any nerves to rest, smashing Holder for back-to-back boundaries and following up with a six off Theekshana to steady the ship before the end of the powerplay.
Though du Plessis was stumped immediately after the powerplay for 26, Chase, in sublime form, partnered with Tim Seifert and shared in a 48-run unbroken fifth wicket stand to guide Saint Lucia home.
Chase finished unbeaten on 39 and Siefert 21 not out to seal the win in the 14th over.