CPL 2023: Forde inspires massive win for St. Lucia Kings

Saint Lucia Kings returned from opening day defeat to get their tournament underway with a 54-run victory over the Barbados Royals in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).

The Kings won the toss and opted to bat first, and they filled their boots with a barnstorming innings that saw them post the highest total of the season thus far with a fantastic 201/6.

Healthy contributions from all members of the batting order negated a brilliant spell of bowling from Jason Holder.

They ensured the Royals would have to produce something exceptional to win.

The Royals failed to get going in their reply, losing five wickets in the PowerPlay to end the chase.

Still, a spirited 48 from Nyeem Young ensured the Royals added some late respectability to proceedings.

Earlier on, the Kings had posted 201/6, led by a blistering show by the opening pair of Johnson Charles and Faf Du Plessis, the Kings raced to 61, but two wickets in Jason Holder’s first over brought things back. Charles and Shadrack Descarte quickly fell to give the Royals something to work with.

However, that joy proved short-lived as first Sean Williams and Du Plessis, then Williams and Sikandar Raza made light work of the Royals’ bowling to put the Kings into a commanding position heading into the final five overs.

But that platform failed to be fully exploited as Qais Ahmad and Jason Holder pulled the momentum back by dismissing Williams and Raza respectively.

Holder was to finish the match with 4/38, adding Roston Chase to his list of scalps but the lack of consistent support elsewhere ensured the Kings could still post an imposing total for the Royals to chase.

202 to win was always a tall order for the Royals to chase, but the reply was over before it began.

Following a run out for Rahkeem Cornwall, Matthew Forde was the destructor in chief, removing the Royals’ top order to leave the innings in trouble at 21/4.

Kyle Mayers briefly threatened to counterattack before Alzarri Joseph had him caught on the third-man boundary for 16.

From there, the Kings took the game away with wickets falling at regular intervals to dismiss the Royals for 147 to chalk up their first win of the tournament. (CPLT20)