Jason Holder scored 53 not out and defended 13 from the final over as St Kitts and Nevis Patriots edged a one-run win over Barbados Royals in the Caribbean Premier League.
After a top-order wobble to 62-4, captain Holder anchored the Patriots’ innings with a 30-ball knock with five sixes as he added 74 for the sixth wicket with Navin Bidaisee, who added 30.
The partnership helped them post 150-7 and was followed by a fine all-round bowling effort with Bidaisee also claiming 2-24.
South Africa’s Rassie van der Dussen finished unbeaten on 37 but the Royals were frustrated by batters making starts but failing to accelerate, with Quinton de Kock, Brandon King and Sherfane Rutherford all passing 20.
Holder then closed out the win with the wicket of Chris Green in the 18th over and Daniel Sams in the last, finishing with figures of 2-32 as the Royals finished 149-7.
The result sees the Royals eliminated with just one win from their eight games while the Patriots are still in contention for a play-off spot, but they will be knocked out if Guyana Amazon Warriors win one of their last two matches.
St Lucia Kings, Trinbago Knight Riders and Antigua and Barbuda Falcons are already through.