A record-breaking stand between Dwayne Bravo and Hashim Amla sets the stage for a big Knight Riders' victory
Bravo, Amla brush off Tridents
The match in a tweet: Record breakers Bravo and Amla save Trinbago from an early collapse, before Barbados' stars crumble in the chase.
The result: Trinbago Knight Riders 5-170 defeated Barbados Tridents 8-159.
Highlights from tonight's match - @tkriders v @BIMTridents #CPL16https://t.co/bNCojmRdAw
— CPL T20 (@CPL) July 2, 2016
The heroes: Hashim Amla could only watch on from the non-strikers end as first fellow opener Brendon McCullum, then Colin Munro, Darren Bravo and Umar Akmal all departed in the space of 18 balls to leave the hosts teetering at 4-20. But the South African found a willing partner in skipper Dwayne Bravo and together the pair pulled off a remarkable turnaround. They steadied the ship, steering the Knight Riders to 4-69 after 12 overs, before going on the attack, adding a further 101 runs from the last 56 balls in a 150-run stand.
Amla and Bravo struck a partnership of 150 to bring #TKR back from a five wicket loss early on #TKRvBIM #CPL16https://t.co/Q9YDsfj2wz
— CPL T20 (@CPL) July 2, 2016
Amla departed on the final ball of the innings, having blasted four sixes and five fours in his 54-ball 81, while Bravo was oustanding for his 66 off 46 - the highlight a massive six that soared out of Queen's Park Oval in the 13th over. Bravo later snared the huge wicket of AB de Villiers, sending the Queen's Park Oval crowd into raptures as his "Champion" song played.
The support acts: Sunil Narine (2-21) was excellent in his four-over spell for Trinbago, securing the key wicket of opener Steven Taylor just when Barbados were looking comfortable in the chase. Kevon Cooper was also solid, despite Nicholas Pooran's late flurry blowing out his figures to 2-42.
The International stars: Amla was the star for the Knight Riders, but the same couldn't be said for ex-New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, who scored just a single from six balls, but he redeemed himself with a brilliant direct hit to run out South African David Wiese for one. Countryman Colin Munro also failed to make an impact, dismissed for six.
For Barbados, de Villiers never quite looked comfortable as he scored 12 off 14 and Kieron Pollard lasted just one delivery as he was well caught on the boundary.
The moment: Barbados needed 76 off 35 deliveries when Pollard joined de Villiers at the crease. The stage was set for something special but when Pollard went big first ball, substitute fielder Anton Devcich timed his jump perfectly, stopping a certain six and sending the Windies allrounder on his way for a first-ball duck.
The consolation efforts: Unheralded 23-year-old left-arm spinner Akeal Hosein had Trinbago in all sorts of bother early. First, he removed dangerous Brendon McCullum, bowling the former Black Cap with a ball that straightened, before sending fellow Kiwi Colin Munro packing with a carbon copy dismissal with his next over. He finished with figures of 2-18 and was by far the best of the Barbados attack.
The game was all but lost when Nicholas Pooran came to the crease, but the wicketkeeper at least provided an entertaining cameo, blasting three-big sixes on his way to a 12-ball 33.
Pooran just hit the roof. No he literally did. That's the biggest six we've ever seen at the Oval. What a talent #CPL16 #TKRvBIM
— CPL T20 (@CPL) July 2, 2016
The stats: Amla and Bravo's 150-run stand was the highest fifth-wicket partnership in CPL history, smashing the previous record of 88, set by Malik and Pollard for Barbados in 2013.
The next stop: It's a big weekend for Trinbago, who are back in action tomorrow against Adam Zampa's Guyana Amazon Warriors (Sunday 11am AEST), while Barbados travel to Basseterre to play St Kitts and Nevis on July 5 (Wednesday 9am AEST).