After the light was fixed for two hours, the Barbados Royals rearranged their objective to 60 runs in five overs. With four balls remaining, David Miller nearly single-handedly led the Royals across the finish line with a 17-ball fifty that featured five sixes and three fours, making light work of the chase.
In the 2024 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Eliminator game, the National Stadium in Providence, Guyana experienced an unlucky floodlight failure, resulting in a reduced over match.
After winning the toss and choosing to bat first, Trinbago Knight Riders scored 168/3 from 19.1 overs when the lights went out. Their innings were anchored by Nicholas Pooran‘s brilliant 91 not out off 60 balls, with skipper Kieron Pollard and Andre Russell providing further support with 17 and 20 runs at the conclusion of the innings, respectively. After Sunil Narine was removed early in the match by Theekshana off the third ball, Jason Roy helped Pooran reach the top of the order with 25 off 17 balls.
The Royals bowled well to contain the damage and keep the Knight Riders in check, even if they didn’t take many wickets. If their own batting card clicked, they may chase the target of 163.
The Royals would have been extremely happy to come back on the field and had the opportunity to control their own destiny when it appeared as though the floodlight malfunction might cruelly ruin their 2024 campaign.
Their rearranged pursuit was a thrilling and fast-paced experience. With the third ball of the first over, Sunil Narine completely destroyed Quinton de Kock with a superbly flighted delivery that nipped the bails and confused the hitter.
David Miller smashed the next delivery after the wicket for a massive six over midwicket after de Kock had clobbered the previous ball for four runs. It was a portent of future events.
During the truncated chase, Miller came into his own, slog-sweeping Narine for a massive 106-meter six off the next over after cutting Chris Jordan away for four over point. The Royals needed to score 25 runs to advance with two overs remaining. Miller remained composed as he hit back-to-back fours off overpitched deliveries from Jordan, then the struggling bowler hit a full toss that was hit for a six on the ground. The Knight Riders lost 17 runs in the penultimate over.
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After a thrilling night in Guyana, Miller put the match away with two consecutive sixes off Terence Hinds with eight needed to go in the last over. Miller also claimed Player of the Match honours and guaranteed the Barbados Royals a spot in the second eliminator.