Barbados Royals prevailed in a tight finish against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots to make it two out of two with a two-wicket victory at Warner Park in Basseterre, St Kitts. Dunith Wellalage’s all-round show served the Royals well in the game as he picked up 3 for 35 before scoring an important 39 off 32. Chasing 154 for victory, a collective batting performance helped the Royals over the line with one ball to spare, with Nyeem Young’s 17* off 7 being a crucial contribution in the end as the Patriots endured their fourth successive loss.

Rahkeem Cornwall was dismissed for a duck by Kyle Mayers in the first over of the chase, and the all-rounder also ended a promising knock from Quinton de Kock to leave the Royals at 25/2 in the fifth over. Kadeem Alleyne’s 18-ball 30 gave the Royals some impetus as the batter struck a four and three sixes - two maximums and the boundary coming in an over off Wanindu Hasaranga - to help them past 50 before the powerplay was completed. Veerasammy Permaul ended Alleyne’s stay and the Patriots bowled a few tight overs to keep the Royals in check. Hasaranga also accounted for Shamarh Brooks after being hit for a six to leave the Royals at 72/4 at the halfway stage.

Rovman Powell got the Royals going again with a six and a four off Mohammad Mohsin in the 12th over. Mohsin proved expensive as he was hit for three fours in an over by Wellalage, who also struck a couple of boundaries off Ryan John. The Patriots had the Royals at 126/6 after 17 overs after Anrich Nortje conceded only six and picked up the wicket of Powell after Wellalage was run out. Jason Holder hit a six off Mohsin in the 18th over to bring the equation down to 17 off two overs. Nyeem Young then took charge, scoring an important four off Nortje in the 19th over. Holder was dismissed by John in the last over with Royals needing 8. Young got a lucky boundary and then with 3 needed off 2 he finished it off with a six.

Earlier, after being asked to bat, the Patriots had a disastrous start as the top three fell without scoring. Evin Lewis was trapped in front by Maheesh Theekshana and had Mayers bowled while Wellalage had Andre Fletcher out lbw. Patriots, though, managed to fight back through a counter-attacking 82-run stand between Hasaranga and Mikyle Louis. Hasaranga struck 5 fours and a six in his 27-ball 40 while Louis hit two sixes and three fours for his 20-ball 30.

But Patriots suffered another collapse - from 82/3 they slipped to 84/6 in the 10th over - with Wellalage making key incisions. The second half of the innings was all about recovery and trying to bat out the quota of overs. Josh Clarkson and Mohsin added 20 but took 38 balls for their partnership. There was, however, some urgency in the death overs as John’s 14-ball 29, which came in a 49-run partnership off 26 balls with Clarkson, helped Patriots past 150.

Brief scores: St Kitts and Nevis Patriots 153/8 in 20 overs (Wanindu Hasaranga 40, Mikyle Louis 30; Dunith Wellalage 3-35, Maheesh Theekshana 2-16) lost to Barbados Royals 157/8 in 19.5 overs (Dunith Wellalage 39, Kadeem Alleyne 30; Kyle Mayers 2-17, Veerasammy Permaul 1-16) by 2 wickets.

Source: Cricbuzz
--Agencies