Sunil Narine produced the kind of performance that has defined his remarkable career, dismantling the Barbados Tridents with the ball before returning to unleash another assault with the bat.<\/p>\n
The 38-year-old all-rounder was at the heart of the Trinbago Knight Riders\u2019 emphatic seven-wicket victory over the Tridents in Friday night\u2019s Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL) contest at Queen\u2019s Park Oval.<\/p>\n
The defending champions never allowed Barbados to settle, strangling the Tridents into a below-par 127 for nine before making the chase look almost effortless.<\/p>\n
Narine then capped his evening by helping manufacture 55 runs during a spectacular 96-run opening stand with Colin Munro, the highest first-wicket partnership of the tournament so far.<\/p>\n
Pooran\u2019s spin gamble pays off<\/p>\n
Nicholas Pooran wasted little time imposing his tactical stamp on the game.<\/p>\n
After winning the toss and choosing to field, the Knight Riders captain turned immediately to spin, flooding the PowerPlay with slower options on a surface that offered substantial turn.<\/p>\n
The gamble worked.<\/p>\n
Barbados could manage only 31 for one during the first six overs, struggling to generate momentum against a disciplined attack and an aggressive field.<\/p>\n
Pooran’s field placements added another layer of pressure. Kieron Pollard was stationed in attacking positions such as silly point and short leg, keeping the Tridents’ batters under constant threat.<\/p>\n
Usman Tariq was particularly impressive.<\/p>\n
The spinner conceded just 11 runs from his spell and claimed the important wicket of Zachary Carter, who had shown promise before departing for 28.<\/p>\n
Then came Narine.<\/p>\n
Narine turns the clock back<\/p>\n
Narine\u2019s four-over spell was a reminder of his enduring class.<\/p>\n
He conceded only 14 runs while taking two wickets, helping the Knight Riders maintain control as Barbados repeatedly lost wickets during the middle overs.<\/p>\n
Chris Green attempted to hold the innings together, producing a determined 27 before Pollard deceived him with a slower delivery.<\/p>\n
Rivaldo Clarke supplied some late resistance, helping Barbados cross the 120-run mark, but the Tridents eventually finished at 127 for nine.<\/p>\n
On a difficult pitch, it was always going to be a challenging total to defend.<\/p>\n
The Knight Riders were about to make that painfully clear.<\/p>\n
Narine and Munro blow the chase open<\/p>\n
Any possibility that Barbados might make the target competitive disappeared almost immediately.<\/p>\n
Narine and Munro attacked from the outset, racing to 60 without loss during the PowerPlay.<\/p>\n
Narine, having already dominated with the ball, now transformed himself into an explosive opening batsman.<\/p>\n
The veteran took the attack apart with a succession of powerful strokes, igniting the Queen\u2019s Park Oval crowd and putting the chase firmly on the Knight Riders\u2019 terms.<\/p>\n
Munro provided the ideal complement, and together the pair produced a 96-run opening partnership, the best first-wicket stand of the tournament to that point.<\/p>\n
Green eventually ended the partnership by dismissing Munro for 37, but the breakthrough came far too late to change the outcome.<\/p>\n
Tridents find only consolation<\/p>\n
Barbados managed to collect two more wickets late in the innings, with Narine eventually falling and Pooran departing for 12.<\/p>\n
But by then, the Knight Riders were comfortably positioned to finish the job.<\/p>\n
Kieron Pollard and Jyd Goolie took care of the remaining runs, guiding the defending champions across the finish line with plenty of time to spare.<\/p>\n
Narine\u2019s contribution stood at the center of the victory: two wickets for 14 runs and a destructive opening contribution that helped make the chase a procession.<\/p>\n
For a Knight Riders side in need of momentum, the timing could hardly have been better.<\/p>\n
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