Cricket

St Lucia Kings emerged victorious in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) final, defeating Guyana Amazon Warriors by six wickets at the Providence Stadium in Guyana. The triumph marked a historic moment for St Lucia, as it became the first team from the island nation to win the CPL title.The Kings' victory was orchestrated by a remarkable performance from Aaron Jones, who turned the tide of the match with a blistering knock. Chasing a modest target of 139, the Kings found themselves in a precarious position at 51 for 4. However, Jones, who had struggled early on, exploded with a flurry of boundaries, scoring 38 runs off just 12 balls.Jones's resurgence was complemented by a steady innings from Roston Chase, who played the anchor role with an unbeaten 39. The duo forged an unbroken 88-run partnership, guiding the Kings to victory with an over to spare.The Amazon Warriors' bowling attack, led by their four-pronged spin attack, had initially put the Kings under pressure. However, Jones's counterattack shattered their hopes of a second consecutive CPL title.The victory was a fitting tribute to St Lucia's Daren Sammy, the Kings' captain and former West Indies skipper. Sammy, who has been instrumental in the development of cricket in St Lucia, expressed his pride in the team's achievement."This is a special moment for St Lucia," said Sammy. "We've worked hard for this, and it's a dream come true to win the CPL title."The Kings' triumph also marked a significant milestone for St Lucia's sporting history. Just two months after sprinter Julien Alfred won the island's first Olympic gold medal, the Kings have brought another moment of glory to the nation.

Former West Indies all-rounder Kieron Pollard showcased his exceptional batting prowess in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) on Tuesday, leading Trinbago Knight Riders to a thrilling four-wicket comeback victory over St Lucia Kings in Gros Islet.Chasing a challenging target of 188, Trinbago found themselves in a precarious position, requiring 27 runs off the last 12 balls. However, Pollard stepped up to the plate, unleashing a blistering unbeaten half-century to turn the tide in his team's favor.Facing the penultimate over bowled by Matthew Forde, Pollard unleashed his power-hitting abilities, smashing four sixes in five balls. The six balls of the over yielded a staggering 24 runs (0,6,0,6,6,6), leaving Trinbago with just three runs needed off six balls.Pollard reached a whirlwind half-century, finishing with an unbeaten 52 off just 19 deliveries. His match-winning knock earned him the well-deserved 'Player of the Match' award. Akeal Hosain (5 not out) sealed the victory with a boundary off the first ball of the final over.The triumph marked Trinbago's second win in the tournament, bringing their points tally to four from three matches. They currently occupy third place in the six-team leaderboard.Pollard's heroics highlighted his enduring impact on the game of cricket. Despite retiring from international cricket earlier this year, he continues to showcase his exceptional skills in franchise-based leagues around the world.

Heinrich Klaasen, the South African power-hitter, will miss the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) due to a family emergency. Klaasen, who was signed by St Lucia Kings in June, is a significant loss for the team.Klaasen's absence has prompted Kings to replace him with New Zealand's Tim Seifert, a top-order batter who has previously won the CPL title with Trinbago Knight Riders in 2020. Klaasen's departure is a blow to Kings, who finished third in the points table last season and reached the Eliminator.Other teams have also made personnel changes. Knight Riders have brought in USA's Andries Gous as a temporary replacement for Australia's Tim David, who will join the team after their first four matches. Barbados Royals have signed Sri Lanka's Dunith Wellalage and Shamarh Brooks to cover for David Miller and Keshav Maharaj, who will miss the first two matches due to the Cricket South Africa awards function.Sikandar Raza has also withdrawn from the CPL due to an injury. The Zimbabwe allrounder tweeted that he would miss the entire tournament. St Kitts and Nevis Patriots are yet to name a replacement.Klaasen's absence is a reminder of the unpredictable nature of sports. Despite his impressive form in recent years, he has been forced to withdraw from the CPL due to circumstances beyond his control. Kings will hope that Seifert can fill the void left by Klaasen and help them challenge for the title.

Aaron Jones, the standout performer for USA at the T20 World Cup 2024, has secured a contract in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The Barbadian-born Jones, who qualifies as a local player, was snapped up by the St Lucia Kings in Monday's draft for the 2024 season, which runs from August 29 to October 4.Jones' impressive performances at the World Cup, including a match-winning 94 not out against Canada and a crucial 36 not out in USA's tie against Pakistan, caught the attention of CPL franchises. He has previously represented Barbados and Combined Campuses and Colleges in the West Indies regional setup and was an unused member of the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots squad in CPL 2019.The six CPL 2024 franchises had already completed most of their recruitment through retentions and pre-signings. Kyle Mayers was the first player to be signed in Monday's draft, joining the Patriots. Mikyle Louis, who made his Test debut for West Indies at Lord's last week, will also play for Patriots, along with Ryan John and Veerasammy Permaul.Isai Thorne, the fast bowler who has represented West Indies at the last two Under-19 World Cups, has earned a contract with Barbados Royals. He is currently in the UK with West Indies' Test squad as a net bowler and "development player." Royals have also drafted Kadeem Alleyne and Nathan Sealy.Raymon Reifer, who played T20I cricket for West Indies as recently as last year, joined Guyana Amazon Warriors along with Ronaldo Alimohamed and Matthew Nandu. Khari Campbell, Johann Jeremiah, Mikkel Govia, and Akeem Auguste are part of the Kings' squad alongside Jones.Antigua and Barbuda Falcons, who will replace Jamaica Tallawahs in CPL 2024, have signed Roshon Primus, Justin Greaves, Jahmar Hamilton, Teddy Bishop, and Kofi James. Trinbago Knight Riders have brought in Nathan Edward and Shaquere Parris to fill their emerging player spots.

St Lucia Kings, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise, have bolstered their squad for the 2024 season with the signings of South African batter Heinrich Klaasen and Afghanistan wristspinner Noor Ahmad. The Kings have also retained key players from their 2023 campaign, including Faf du Plessis, David Wiese, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa.Klaasen, a dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, has been in exceptional form in T20 cricket since 2023. He was the second-highest run-getter in the inaugural SA20 league and impressed in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with 479 runs in 16 games. His strike rate in the format since 2023 is an impressive 176.80. This will be Klaasen's second stint in the CPL, having previously represented the Guyana Amazon Warriors in 2022.Noor Ahmad, a rising star in Afghanistan cricket, is known for his deceptive leg-spin bowling. He has represented his country in international T20 matches and has impressed with his ability to take wickets and restrict runs.The Kings have retained the core of their Caribbean players, including Johnson Charles, Alzarri Joseph, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, and Khary Pierre. Fast bowlers Shadrack Descarte and McKenny Clarke have also been retained.Faf du Plessis, who missed the majority of the 2023 season due to injury, will return to lead the Kings. The experienced South African batter is a key figure in the team's batting lineup.David Wiese, the Namibian all-rounder, has been a consistent performer for the Kings. He provides valuable contributions with both bat and ball.Bhanuka Rajapaksa, the Sri Lankan batter, is known for his explosive batting style. He has the ability to accelerate the scoring rate and hit big boundaries.The Kings have released Colin Munro, Sikandar Raza, Sean Williams, and Chris Sole. Munro was signed as du Plessis' replacement last year, but he failed to make a significant impact.The 2024 CPL season will run from August 30 to October 7. The Kings will open their campaign against the St Kitts and Nevis Patriots on September 1 in Basseterre.