Truncated matches due to inclement weather are commonplace in cricket but on Tuesday, in a Caribbean Premier League Eliminator match between Trinbago Knight Riders and Barbados Royals, the chase was reduced to five overs because of, wait for it, floodlight failure. TKR batter Nicholas Pooran seemed headed towards his second straight CPL 2024 century when one of the floodlight towers at the Providence Stadium suffered malfunctioned bringing the match to an unexpected halt.
TKR were 168/3 in 19.1 overs and an in-form Pooran batting on 91 off 60. The contest was stopped for over two hours thanks to the floodlight failure.
The Royals were losing hope since if the contest didn’t resume, TKR would have advanced because they were placed higher on the points table. However, a few minutes before the cut-off time, the floodlight started functioning but since a significant period was lost due to the failure, Royals’ chase was reduced to five overs in which they had to score 60.
Royals then lost opener Quinton de Kock on four off what was just the third delivery of their chase. Enter David Miller and he unleashed mayhem on TKR bowlers blasting his way to an unbeaten 17-ball 50, an innings that featured three fours and five sixes.
Thanks to Miller’s blinder of an innings, the Royals overhauled the target in 4.2 overs to win by nine wickets and progress to the second qualifier.
Earlier, TKR opted to bat first but lose opener Sunil Narine on 2 in the very first over. By the end of the Powerplay, they had lost both their openers with Jason Roy falling on the last delivery of the phase for a 17-ball 25.
Pooran and captain Kieron Pollard (17 off 19) took the innings forward. Andre Russell walked in next after Pollard’s exit and remained unbeaten on 20 off 18.
In the first qualifier, Guyana Amazon Warriors will face Saint Lucia at the same venue on October 2 while the loser of this game will face TKR in the second qualifier on October 4.
The final will be held on October 6.
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