Champions Saint Lucia Kings pulled off what looked like a near-impossible run chase to kickstart their Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League title charge. Behind a brilliant maiden 50 from Ackeem Auguste, the home team got their first win, defeating the previously unbeaten Guyana Amazon Warriors on Tuesday night at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
Chasing a mammoth 203 for victory, the Kings were powered by a scintillating knock from Auguste, who scored 73 from just 35 balls. The 21-year-old’s first-ever T20 half-century was inclusive of six fours and four sixes. The former West Indies Under-19 captain smashed the fastest 50 this season, just 19 balls, and guided the Kings to 86-1 after six overs, the most productive powerplay in franchise history.
At the end, the Kings got to 203-6 with 11 balls remaining. Opening batsman Tim Seifert made 37 from 24, with four fours and a six. Down the order, Tim David kept the momentum going with 25 from 15, and Aaron Jones stroked 16 from 12.
The 2024 championship rematch was a tale of two innings. The Kings never took their eyes off the prize in the chase, but they stumbled badly during the first innings, after they seemed to be well in control.
Asked to bowl first, the home team got off to a fine start, restricting the Warriors to 44-3 at the end of the powerplay. At the halfway mark, the visitors were 68-4. The Kings turned the screws further, with just 16 runs conceded from the next 18 deliveries, and a wicket, that of the dangerous Shai Hope.
The hosts appeared to be bossing it, with the tourists 95-5 after 14 overs. But then came the over that threatened to change the complexion of the game. Romario Shepherd smacked Oshane Thomas for 22 runs in the 15th over, and the bowler compounded matters with three no-balls and a wide.
Iftikhar Ahmed rounded out the over with a maximum of his own. The 10-ball over had yielded 33, and the run rate had jumped to 8.53.
The 17th over from Keon Gaston included 12 balls, six wides, two sixes, and two fours for 26. He gave up a further 17 in the final over, whilst Thomas allowed 12 in the 18th. The Warriors, led by Shepherd’s 73 off 34, finished on 202-6, giving the Kings a mountain to climb. But Auguste’s 73 was the trump card.
With the win, the Kings are up to second in the points table. They play the St Kitts & Nevis Patriots on Thursday at DSCG.
