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Watson, Hussey shine in St Lucia victory

Aussies start their Caribbean Premier League careers on a winning note in the tournament opener

The match in a tweet: Zouks start with a win! Watson stars with the ball, Charles scores fifty, before Hussey and Miller finish off an emphatic victory

The result: Trinbago Knight Riders 6-162 lost to St Lucia Zouks 4-164 (19.1)

The Aussies: Shane Watson was in fine form with the ball in the Indian Premier League earlier this year and that didn’t change in his opening CPL outing, as he claimed three wickets from his four-over spell. He snared the important scalps of Kiwi Colin Munro and stopped Umar Akmal, breaking up what was turning into a damaging partnership between the Pakistani and Darren Bravo. Watson made it three wickets when he removed Kevon Cooper in the final over, but he was left grimacing after Bravo blasted him into the stands with the final ball of the innings. Then, Watson made a positive start with the bat as he opened alongside Windies batsman Johnson Charles, powering a big six in the third over, but he was brought undone by Dwayne Bravo, with a leading edge handing Sunil Narine a simple catch as the former Aussie allrounder departed for a run-a-ball 16.

In his first competitive match since leading the Thunder to their maiden KFC Big Bash League title in January, Mike Hussey came to the crease with the run chase hanging in the balance. The big wicket of Charles had just fallen and Trinbago looked to have the upper hand, but Hussey steadied the ship, scoring a run-a-ball 16. He was bowled by Dwayne Bravo in the penultimate over, but the damage was already done.

The hero: Facing a tricky run chase, St Lucia opener Johnson Charles took up the attack to Trinbago, setting the tone for the innings that followed. His speedy half-century gave the Zouks the start they needed and while he was disappointed to be dismissed on 58, he had laid the foundations for Hussey and David Miller to finish things off.

The International stars: Kiwi superstar Brendon McCullum started in typically aggressive fashion for Trinbago, but the opener was dismissed for 12. Fellow Kiwi Colin Munro (11) fared no better and while South Africa’s Hashim Amla also made a positive start, he couldn’t go on with it, removed by Canadian spinner Nitish Kumar for a 21-ball 26. Pakistan’s Umar Akmal (30 off 28) was the best of the Knight Riders’ overseas contingent.

For St Lucia, Proteas quick Morne Morkel was savaged by the Trinbago attack, finishing his four overs with 1-41, but countryman David Miller scored a crucial 33 off 20 – including two fours and a six in the 17th over – which turned the run chase back in the visitors’ favour and ultimately saw them home.

The consolation efforts: Darren Bravo’s unbeaten 63, which came off just 44 balls, provided the backbone of the Trinbago innings. The hosts were in a bit of trouble at 3-58 before Bravo put on 66 for the fourth wicket with Umar Akmal. When the Pakistani departed for 30, Bravo stood tall, blasting four big sixes and two to help his team to 6-162. In-form spinner Sunil Narine (2-25) was also impressive, sending St Lucia opener Johnson Charles packing for 52 before following up with another huge scalp, outsmarting Andre Fletcher.

The catch: St Lucia Johnson Charles was flying at 52 from 37 balls when Sunil Narine and Brendon McCullum pulled off a piece of magic. McCullum took a superb juggling catch at slip, but both he and spinner Narine were forced to endure a nervous wait as the umpires checked for a front foot no ball. It was the closest of calls, but was ultimately ruled out, handing the hosts a breakthrough they sorely needed.

The over: The run chase was on the verge of slipping away from St Lucia before the 17th over. In the space of three balls, David Miller found the boundary twice and scored a big six off quick Ronsford Beaton to leave his team needing 23 runs from the last three overs.

The next stop: The Knight Riders will be back in action on Friday, July 1 (Saturday 11am AEST) when they host Barbados, while St Lucia will travel to Basseterre to play St Kitts and Nevil on Sunday, July 3 (Monday 6am AEST).