Udana, Pollard lead TKR to victory over Barbados Royals

(CMC) DEFENDING champions Trinbago Knight Riders got their 2021
Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) campaign up and running on Friday night
with a six-wicket victory over the Barbados Royals.
Barbados Royals won the toss and opted to bat first but the decision didn’t go
their way as an excellent Trinbago bowling display, led by pacer Isuru Udana’s
5/21, restricted them to 122 all out.
(Scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 125/4 (Pollard 58*, Ramdin 29*; Udana 5/21,
Rampaul 2/13) beat Barbados Royals 122 (Khan 30, Phillips 24; Amir 3/21,
Thomas 1/14) by six wickets.
In reply Trinbago initially made hard work of the chase before the experienced
duo of Kieron Pollard and Denesh Ramdin saw them home with ease.
The Royals had got off to a steady start reaching 37 runs at the end of the
PowerPlay for the sole loss of Johnson Charles.
However they could not build on the foundation as Udana’s double strike
removed Jason Holder and Glenn Phillips in quick succession.
A counter-attacking 30 runs from Azam Khan briefly threatened to help Barbados
set an imposing target but Udana’s re-entry into the attack led to the dismissal of
both Khan and Thisara Perera to complete the first five wicket haul of the 2021
Hero CPL.
The remaining Royals wickets fell like dominoes to leave them on 122 all out.
Trinbago stuttered in their chase of the target losing three wickets in the
PowerPlay as Mohammed Amir started his spell with laser like accuracy and
Oshane Thomas followed that up by getting Tim Seifert to top-edge a rising
delivery to deep square leg.
At 38/4 the Knight Riders were in a perilous situation, but captain Pollard took on
the responsibility to take the drama out of the chase with a brilliantly constructed
58 runs from 30 balls.

Along with the experienced Denesh Ramdin the pair put on an 87-run partnership
from 57 balls to see Trinbago home comfortably. (CPL).