@Kieron Pollard playing a shot during his 65 runs innings SKNP in CPL2025
An exhilarating encounter took place on September 1, 2025, between Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) and St Kitts and Nevis Patriots (SKNP) in the 2025 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) in match number 19 at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad. Riding a streak of four straight wins, TKR took on an SKNP side who were desperate to reverse their crumbling campaign. In a game of spectacular batting, disciplined bowling and decisive momentum shifts, TKR came out victorious by 12 runs to further cement their leadership in the CPL standings. This report explores the most important moments, highlights and tricks of the game, relying on the stories of several different sources.
Match Overview: On a pitch that was damp and had genuine bounce, the match was started on true-bounce by TKR, who won the toss and decided to bat first. It was a tactical move since over time, teams running behind in the Brian Lara Stadium, where all 3 CPL games in 2025 had been won by the second batting team. But TKR had a powerful batting line with Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran, which reversed the situation and put a difficult target SKNP could not reach. TKR scored TKR 179/6 in 20 overs and SKNP scored SKNP 167/6, which led to a 12-run difference and TKR winning the match.TKR Batting: Pooran and PollardA Tale of Recovering
TKR had begun its innings shakily and openers Colin Munro (17) and Alex Hales (7) had been thrown out within the powerplay which put the team at 27/2. Jason Holder and Ashmead Nedd attacked early on behalf of SKNP, taking advantage of the moist weather to make things tense. TKR was left to struggle at 78/3 in the 10th over, during the strategic break, and Darren Bravo was dismissed for a very fluent 21.
This was to change when Kieron Pollard arrived and replaced captain Nicholas Pooran at the crease. With his famous sunhat on, Pollard made a fierce retaliatory strike that turned the tide of events. His 65 off 29 balls which had seven sixes out of eight hits was a masterpiece of power-hitting in T20. The onslaught by Pollard started in the 15th against leg-spinner Navian Bidaisee, when he drove a six over long-on as a prelude to a furious charge. Pooran matched Pollard in aggression with a half-century of his own in less than 8.1 overs and they together made a breakthrough partnership of 90 runs.
The innings of eight sixes is the second-shortest in CPL history and was only surpassed by that of Pollard himself, who hit 72 in 28 balls in 2020. TKR had reached within striking distance of 170 by the time Pollard was sacked in the 18th over. Holder becomes disciplined in his final over forcing TKR to 179/6, leaving no opportunity to cross the 180-mark, but overall it was intimidating considering the poor batting performance of SKNP.
SKNP Chase: A Strong Start Fades
With a total of 180 to chase, SKNP had to get off strongly against a total of 180 by TKR. Openers Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher gave just that running 96 in 10.4 overs. Briskly Lewis, with 42 in 25 balls (one four and four sixes) and more measured Fletcher, with 67 in 54 balls (six fours, two sixes), gave a good start. They continued to be aggressive running SKNP in the hunt, and the required run rate was manageable initially.
But TKR bowlers under the leadership of seamer Nathan Edward and Mohammad Amir shifted the screws in the middle overs. Edward, who scored out of 3/30 after finishing the match in 3.2 overs, dismissed Lewis, Kyle Mayers, and Jyd Goolie, which slowed SKNP down. Amir, though he limped off in his fourth over because of a groin wound,
and also containing the precious scalps of Alick Athanaze and Jason Holder. Holder defended SKNP with 44 off 22 balls to keep them in the chase, but was dismissed by Amir, through an accurate yorker, to change the momentum.
Having 27 runs required in the last over, off-spinner Usman Tariq managed to maintain his nerves even after giving up a six on the first ball. SKNP completed with 167-6, and was 12 runs behind. The failure of the middle order which followed the withdrawal of the openers, and the inability of Athanaze, Mayers and Goolie to score, came at a high price. It was an audacious attempt on the part of Fletcher, and the insufficiency of SKNP depth was proved against the measured charge of TKR.
Key points and important performances:
- Kieron Pollard (TKR): His 65 of 29 balls with seven sixes, changed the face of the TKR innings, which started at a dangerous 78 of 3 to a decisive 179 of 6. His speed of acceleration following a slow start was decisive.
- Nicholas Pooran (TKR): The 50 and 90-run partnership with Pollard by the captain gave the opponent a huge target, and this displayed the batting excellence of TKR.
- Nathan Edwards (TKR): 3 wickets in 30 balls, 1 in the middle of the over, rattled SKNP in pursuit and was somewhat applauded due to his composure.
- Mohammad Amir (TKR): Amir, never injured, 29, yorker that killed a match to send Holder home, was his value.
- Evin Lewis and Andre Fletcher (SKNP): SKNP got a platform on their 96-run opening stand, which was then followed by their dismissals leading to a collapse.
- Jason Holder (SKNP): 44 out of 22 balls and early bowling breakthroughs were enough to keep SKNP competitive but no more than that.
Strategic Insights:
Their experienced lineup is what allowed TKR to overcome the initial losses and become a successful team. The reverse strike by Pollard and Pooran made SKNP to lose its early bowling advantage, and TKR bowlers planned their attacks at crucial times and moments to stop SKNP.
The bowling of SKNP under Holder and Nedd was disciplined in the first quarter but fell to pieces against the aggression of Pollard. The onslaught of Pollard fell on the leg-spin of Navian Bidaisee, who had yielded several sixes in the 15th over, and which had turned the tide. The failure of the Patriots to mount pressure during the death overs meant that TKR could record a healthy total.
Tournament Context:
This was the sixth of seven wins that TKR has had, and this confirmed their position at the summit of the CPL 2025 table. Their combination of well-established players such as Pollard, Pooran and Munro, and their youngsters such as Edward has seen them become the team to reckon with. Having won only two games, SKNP was in fifth place, and their chances of making the playoffs were all lost after losing six games in eight.
Although he scored an insignificant 17 this time, Colin Munro is still the highest scoring player in the league, with 335 runs in 178 strikes and Andre Fletcher is on the top of the SKNP list, having scored 223. Mohammad Amir also sets pace in bowling with 11 wickets and this just goes to show his significance to the success of TKR.
Historical Context:
In head-to-head, TKR leads SKNP 16-6, with two in the last season, and two more across CPL 2025, with Munro hitting 120 off 57 balls to win TKR by 12 on August 17. The Patriots have not been able to rise to power over TKR and this match only emphasized the difference between the two teams.
Looking Ahead:
The second test TKR must face is a high stakes battle with second placed Saint Lucia Kings on September 4 where their batting strength and bowling discipline will be put to test once more. SKNP, who have three games left, have a mountain to climb to save the season, and they begin with a game against Guyana Amazon Warriors.
Conclusion:
The fight on September 1, 2025, between TKR and SKNP was an embodiment of how TKR had stumbled through the early part of the season: batting explosively and bowling with clinical precision. With the help of Pooran and Edward, Pollard had done enough to keep TKR in charge of SKNP and the CPL 2025 points table. To the Patriots, the defeat highlighted their inconsistency, and they had so much to consider as the.tournament progresses
Brief scores:
Trinbago Knight Riders 179/6 in 20 overs (Kieron Pollard 65, Nicholas Pooran 52; Jason Holder 2-25) beat St. Kitts & Nevis Patriots 167/6 in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 67; Nathan Edwards 3-30, Mohammad Amir 2-29).