CPL 2022: Mayers’ 73 trumps Fletcher’s 81 as Royals beat Patriots
SUMMARY: St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots 149-8 from 17 overs (Andre Fletcher 81, Joshua DaSilva 19; Jason Holder 2-21, Ramon Simmonds 2-28) vs Barbados Royals 150-3 from 15.1 overs (Kyle Mayers 73, Rahkeem Cornwall 39, Dwayne Bravo 2-33)
The Barbados Royals claimed victory in their opening fixture of 2022 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots with a dominant performance in all three facets of the game.
The Royals won the toss and opted to field first and it proved to be a wise decision as Andre Fletcher’s sparkling 81 aside they were able to take regular wickets to restrict the Patriots to 149-8.
In reply, Rahkeem Cornwall and Kyle Mayers raced to a 64-run partnership to set the platform for a straightforward win.
With Mayers batting through the majority of the innings the chase was always a formality as his 73 from 46 balls put the result beyond doubt.
The Patriots were handed a blow prior to the match with the injury enforced absence of Evin Lewis, but the new opening pair of Andre Fletcher and Joshua Da Silva ensured that the Patriots had a firm foundation reaching 43-0 at the end of the Powerplay.
Fletcher was in imperious form as he raced into the 40s and although he slowed down somewhat as he approached his 50, once that landmark was reached he pressed on the accelerator once again eventually being dismissed for a brilliant 81 from 55 balls.
However, that was the only knock of substance in the Patriots innings as no other batter was able to stick with Fletcher long enough to help set a more challenging total.
The Barbados Royals were excellent in the field, and this was no more typified than Corbin Bosch’s five catches in the outfield, a Hero CPL record.
If the Patriots were going to defend their total, they had to match the Royals’ excellence in the field, but drops in the field released the pressure on the Royals.
Mayers was to be the biggest beneficiary of the chances that went begging as he survived three drops to guide to the Royals to the cusp of victory before Azam Khan and David Miller saw them over the line with plenty of balls to spare. (CPL)
