Tabraiz Shamsi clips the wings of Trinbago Knight Riders

Originally posted on Guerilla Cricket | By Aryan Surana | Last updated Sep 4, 2025 7:30 AM ET

Saint Lucia Kings annihilated the on-song Trinbago Knight Riders in Trinidad with 53 balls and 7 wickets to spare. Kings’ spinners Tabraiz Shamsi, Khary Pierre and Roston Chase did the bulk of the damage as Kings became the second team, behind the Knight Riders, to qualify for the CPL 2025 playoffs.

TKR had a poor start with Colin Munro departing second ball off Pierre. Darren Bravo flattered the deceive, dealing a couple of lusty blows before top-edging one to the short fine-leg fielder. Nicholas Pooran had his fair share of luck as the ball fell in no man’s land on occasions but he soon found his mojo with two consecutive sixes off David Wiese. However, Alex Hales fell on the last ball of the PowerPlay to leave the high-flying side three down.

The introduction of Shamsi worked like a charm as he nabbed Akeal Hosein for a first-ball duck. With the pitch continuing to grip and having variable bounce, Pooran under-edged Chase to the wicketkeeper as TKR lost half their side inside the first ten overs. Andre Russell flickered for a while but there was none stopping Shamsi on the day as he spun one to knock back his middle stump. He produced another ripper soon thereafter to get rid of the in-form Kieron Pollard with the score reading only 82. Terrence Hinds and Nathan Edwards dragged TKR past the 100-mark.

Tim Seifert began the pursuit in grand style. He smashed 14 runs off the first over with two boundaries and a six. He further express himself with back-to-back boundaries off Sunil Narine even though his partner Johnson Charles miscued one to long-on at the end of Narine’s over. Seifert and Ackeem Auguste then added 40 runs with the latter being the dominator. Hosein wasn’t at his economical best while Russell was greeted with an expensive 20-run over by Auguste. Seifert eventually walked back for a well-made 36 while Auguste’s menacing knock was stifled by Narine. Chase found some timely boundaries while David bludgeoned two sixes as the Kings wrapped up an inch-pefect performance.

This article first appeared on Guerilla Cricket and was syndicated with permission.

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