Shakib’s Tridents ensure final berth

Barbados Tridents defeated Trinbago Knight Riders by 12 runs in the second qualifier match at the Brian Lara Stadium in Trinidad to go through to the final of the Caribbean Premier League.

Barbados were sent in to bat and lost opener Alex Hales in the fifth over following a subdued start. Shakib Al Hasan came in and breezed to 18 off 12 with a four and a six to get them moving before he was removed in the ninth over. Jean-Paul Duminy struck 10 off 5 before retiring hurt and then opener Johnson Charles, struggling to get going, was removed after a team-high 35. In the end it was Ashley Nurse (24 off 9) and Raymon Reifer (24 off 18) who took Barbados to 160 for 6 with some hefty blows at the death.

Shakib was hit for 16 runs in his very first over and did not return to the attack until the 13th over. He conceded 27 in the 2 overs he bowled, without managing a wicket. Knight Riders lost wickets early during the chase and were never allowed to settle. Reifer, Nurse, Harry Gurney and Hayden Walsh all bagged two wickets each while captain Jason Holder bagged one in his four overs. Seekkuge Prasanna threatened to take the game away from the Tridents with a 27-ball 51 but with 14 needed off the last over, Reifer bagged Prasanna with a yorker with his first ball of the final over. There was no more drama as Reifer cleaned up the tail with the wicket of Khary Pierre to take Tridents to the final.

Barbados Tridents 160 for 6 (Charles 35, Reifer 24*, Nurse 24*, Pierre 2-25) beat Trinbago Knight Riders 148 (Prasanna 51, Nurse 2-14) by 12 runs