The St Kitts and Nevis Patriots kept their playoff chances alive with a one-run victory over the Barbados Royals, who were eliminated in the CPL 2025. Captain Jason Holder stole the show, not only leading the Patriots’ innings with an undefeated fifty, but also bowling a match-winning final over in which he protected 13 runs.
Patriots are fifth on the points table, with eight points with all of their matches completed. Guyana Amazon Warriors are fourth with eight points, and if they win one of their next two games, they would claim the final playoff position, with the St Lucia Kings, Trinbago Knight Riders, and Antigua and Barbuda Falcons already qualified.
While numerous players made valuable contributions, Holder’s overall performance was crucial to the Patriots’ win. His 53 not out helped them reach 150 for 7, while the Patriots recovered from 62 for 4 at the conclusion of ten overs. This came after Mohammad Rizwan’s 39 off 36 helped the Patriots get off to a modest start. Holder and Navin Bidaisee (30 off 23) accelerated in the middle stages, scoring 74 runs off 46 balls for the sixth wicket, including 34 runs in the last three overs.
Jason Holder’s leadership was also obvious in the bowling attack, where he took two key wickets in the dying moments.
His most dramatic contribution came in the last over, when the Royals required 14 runs to win. Rassie van der Dussen started the over with a six over long-on, reducing the equation to eight off five. Holder maintained his composure and, with the equation down to two off the final ball, produced a superb yorker to catch Daniel Sams lbw, clinching a thrilling triumph for the Patriots.
Earlier, the Royals had a terrific start, with opener Brandon King (29 off 22) building a solid basis for the chase. By the end of the power play, they had gone 44 for 1. However, the middle overs were costly as the top order struggled to accelerate. Waqar Salamkheil struck first, taking King’s wicket, and Naseem Shah removed Kadeem Alleyne in the eighth over. Quinton de Kock was caught and bowled by Bidaisee in the next over, and despite Rizwan’s dropped catch, the Royals’ pursuit began to falter.
Van van Dussen fought courageously, keeping the Royals in contention with a quickfire 37 off 27 balls, but it was insufficient in the end. Salamkheil and Bidaisee each took two wickets for the Patriots.
India
