Cottrell ensures unlikely win for Patriots in thrilling finale

Sheldon Cottrell of Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots after winning the 2021 Hero Caribbean
Premier League match 14 between Saint Kitts & Nevis Patriots and Barbados Royals at
Warner Park Sporting Complex on September 2, 2021 in Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis.
(Photo by Randy Brooks – CPL T20/Getty Images)

(CPL2021)St Kitts & Nevis Patriots maintained their unbeaten start to
the 2021 Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) with a remarkable final ball win
over Barbados Royals, who suffered their fourth defeat of the tournament.
The Patriots won the toss and opted to bowl, taking wickets at regular intervals
as the Barbados Royals posted 160-8, with Smit Patel, making his Hero CPL
debut, top scoring with 54.
The Patriots stumbled in their chase, a returning Chris Gayle top scored with 42
runs and a defeat seemed likely until Sheldon Cottrell and Dominic Drakes put on
an unlikely partnership with the bat, which culminated with Cottrell striking a six
off the last ball for a dramatic win in front of the home crowd.
Barbados Royals had a steady start to their innings, Johnson Charles and Patel
patiently accruing runs after the early dismissal of Shai Hope. Patel would
eventually reach his half century, while captain Jason Holder later made a quick
cameo of 19 runs from his 7 balls.
DJ Bravo, captaining the side, showed all his craft and guile in the format to take
four wickets and stop Barbados Royals from piling on the runs towards the end
of their innings. There were also impressive contributions with the ball from fast
bowlers Cottrell and Netherlands international Paul van Meekeren.
St Kitts & Nevis Patriots were controlled as they started their innings, losing Evin
Lewis in the Powerplay overs, but rebuilding with Devon Thomas and Gayle.
It was another Hero CPL debutant, wrist spinner Jake Lintott, who made valuable
inroads by first dismissing Gayle, and then the dangerous Sherfane Rutherford
two balls later. 20 year old Nyeem Young dismissed the rest of the middle order
and it seemed like the Patriots would not be able to chase the target. However
the late onslaught from Drakes and Cottrell with the bat ensured St Kitts & Nevis
Patriots maintained their superb start to the tournament.