Republic Bank CPL champions Saint Lucia Kings won by 68 runs over the Saint Lucia Cricket High Performance Centre on Wednesday night at Daren Sammy Cricket Ground. The Kings wrapped their training camp in Saint Lucia before getting their 2025 CPL campaign underway this Sunday against Antigua & Barbuda Falcons.
The Kings won the toss and chose to bat, finding themselves in early problems thanks to the pace of Dillan John. The pacer ended with three wickets and had a catch dropped, though he did give up 30 runs. After 6.5 overs, the Kings were 4-69, as Tarrique Edward removed Shadrack Descarte for 21.
Aaron Jones joined Johann Jeremiah in the middle, and the two put on 68 runs in 48 balls, taking the score to 137-5 when Jeremiah fell for 36.
Jones continued, compiling 67 from 35 balls, including five fours and two sixes, to shepherd the Kings to 206-9. Johnson Charles made 24 off 14 balls at the top of the order.
Aside from John’s 3-30, Kester Charlemagne copped 2-39 from three overs, The other wicket-takers: Tarrique Edward (1-13 from two overs), Shawnil Edward (1-30, three overs), Jaden Elibox (1-31, four overs), and Royce Paul (1-32, three overs).
After decent starts, the HPC lads quickly came unstuck, dismissed for just 138. Captain Kimani Melius smashed two sixes in his knock of 16 from eight balls. Stephen Naitram made 19 from 16. Noelle Leo added 26 from 14, with four fours and a six.
But the innings limped on from there, with six of the 10 wickets producing single figures. Down the order, Kester Charlemagne and Dornan Edward contributed 18 apiece, as the HPC were all out in 19.4 overs.
Delano Potgieter, a 29-year-old South African all-rounder, shared seven wickets with 18-year-old Antiguan leggie Micah McKenzie. McKenzie took 4-18, Potgieter 3-34. Shadrack Descarte got 1-29, Keon Gaston 1-22, and Khary Pierre 1-29.
