Saint Lucia Kings vs St Kitts and Nevis Patriots Match 25 Full Commentary

The home crowd is buzzing, and Warner Park feels like a carnival as the Patriots take the field. Kamil Pooran and Tim Seifert are the two openers for the Saint Lucia Kings who walk to the crease. All hinges on how these two in-form blokes start. Spin to start things in the chase as Ashmead Nedd has been given the new ball. There is a slip in place and Seifert is on strike. Here we go again...

... THE RUN CHASE ...

Everest to climb - Chasing 236 is a mammoth total by any measure. The shortest format has thrown up its fair share of insanity before, but even so, the Kings will need to bring their absolute A-game if they are to have any shot at pulling this one off. The Patriots have given themselves a really good chance to finish their home leg on a high while also keeping their qualification hopes alive, albeit by the barest of margins. They will look to pick up wickets at regular intervals, something the Kings' bowlers failed to do, and make sure the opposition never finds an opening to sneak back into the game. Back in a bit with the run chase.

In conversation with the centurion - Dasun Shanaka says that he's really happy about how he expressed himself in this innings. Mentions that he practices hard in the nets and looks to hit all across the ground. On having Hasaranga at the other end during the hundred, Shanaka says that it was special as Hasaranga was pushing him to get the hundred. On hitting Theekshana for those two sixes, Dasun says that he knows him well and ends by saying that this knock is right up there with one of his best ones, and thanks the crowd for their support.

Shanaka, the destructor - There was a brief spell where Roston Chase and Joshua Bishop managed to keep things quiet, easing through a few overs without conceding much. But then it was Dasun Shanaka's turn to take the willow to the bowling, and swing it he did, tearing his way to a half-century off just 24 balls. From there, it took him only 15 more deliveries to bring up a well-deserved century, one that now stands alone as the fastest hundred in CPL history, reached off just 39 balls.

Fletcher, the feaster - Mayers dropped early on nought, couldn't make the reprieve count, dismissed by Forde without doing much. But that turned out to be the only joy the Kings found in the first ten overs. Andre Fletcher, meanwhile, came out with pure attacking intent, spanking the ball to every corner of Warner Park, while Charles grew into his groove alongside him, playing the perfect foil to the Spiceman. To rub salt into the Kings' wounds, Forde and Theekshana both grassed chances too, letting Fletcher off on 43, again on 49, and once more on 53, with each life another sip from the elixir keeping him going, until finally, the potion ran dry.

Absolute run-fest at Warner Park - Mesmerising ball-striking paired with dexterity of the highest order from the Patriots. 17 mammoth sixes were struck across the innings, twelve of them alone smashed by Dasun Shanaka in his historic knock of 121, which honestly looked so, so effortless. The Kings' bowling attack looked jaded and was torn apart piece by piece, and they are themselves to blame for having not converting the chances that came their way. They dropped as many as four catches and missed out on a couple of run-outs too. And as a result, they paid a very heavy toll for it.

Time for the final over of the first innings. Shanaka is on the cusp of a CPL record for the fastest century. Keon Gaston will wrap it up. 0/38 in 3 overs so far are his bowling figures.

Another mammoth over for the Patriots. It's raining fours and sixes here at Warner Park and Shanaka is in no-nonsense mood tonight. Even 220+ is a possibility now with the way he is batting right now. Matthew Forde (3-0-30-2) returns for the penultimate over of the innings and will bowl out.

A door closes, another opens soon after - As we draw the curtains on the Basseterre leg of the competition, the home team, St Kitts and Nevis Patriots, manage to take a significant leap in their charge for a place in the top four. They are still one point off Saint Lucia Kings, who are in fourth place, though. Next up, the caravan keeps moving all across the West Indian islands, and the latest stop is Guyana. Things will kick off with a contest between hosts Guyana Amazon Warriors and Jamaica Kingsmen at the Providence Stadium. That contest is scheduled to begin on Friday, September 4, at 11 pm GMT (4.30 am IST the next day). As usual, you can also tune in much sooner and follow our build-up to that contest. Until then, take care and goodbye!

The victorious skipper of St Kitts and Nevis Patriots - Jason Holder calls it a top team effort. Mentions from Andre Fletcher, Kyle Mayers, to Johnson Charles, everyone stepped up to contribute with the bat alongside Dasun Shanaka, who he says played an explosive knock. Everybody played their part, he adds, and the key was building partnerships rather than going helter-skelter, pacing the innings well before letting loose at the death. On the decision to promote Shanaka, Holder explains that the team has played enough cricket together now to understand their template. Details that Dasun has been in fine form, so the plan was always to get the most out of him. Adds that today the situation lined up perfectly, giving him extra balls to work with and he made every one of them count. Holder praises how well-paced the innings was, starting watchfully before turning explosive in the back end. He credits Shanaka heavily for how he read and finished the innings, while also making sure to point out it was a total team performance, with the bowling unit equally outstanding. On being asked for a word for the home fans who stuck around, Holder turns reflective, thanking the people of St Kitts and Nevis for their tremendous support over the last few days and years. It hasn't always been easy, he admits, but they have stayed loyal through thick and thin, and he hopes this momentum can carry the team through the rest of the tournament.

Roston Chase of Saint Lucia Kings - Chase says that 235 was a very big score, but the ground is a chasing ground, and they still had a chance but lost it in the Powerplay with the bat. Adds that he didn't want to bring a new bowler late in the innings and lauds Dasun Shanaka for the way he played. Mentions that the opposition batters got off to good starts and made it count, whereas they were sloppy in the field.

Let's now hear from the two captains...

No bite with the bat - Saint Lucia Kings endured a very tough outing in the field, dropping plenty of catches and giving away 235 runs in total. They were up against it with the bat and crumbled under pressure. As many as 4 wickets fell inside the first 7 overs, with Tim Seifert left stranded at the other end. He fought hard and notched up a half-century, but got out soon after. There wasn't any counter-punch from the middle or lower order either and the Kings failed to even breach the 100-run mark, denting their net run rate quite a fair bit.

Homeboy shines bright as the sun - Jeremiah Louis hasn't always had it his way when it comes to this tournament and he's never been a regular over the course of the last 5-6 seasons either. He even got hit for 55 runs in the last game, but he's finally been rewarded for his perseverance. A sensational five-wicket haul that took the Kings' batting lineup apart, and along with Ashmead Nedd, Naseem Shah and Wanindu Hasaranga, Louis and the Patriots dominated proceedings.

Player of the Match - Dasun Shanaka gets the accolade, and deservedly so. Shanaka says he simply tried to play each ball on its merit. Adds that he backed himself to take his chances whenever the ball landed in his zone. Details that once he got to 30, whenever the ball landed in his zone, he backed himself to take the chance. He is quick to credit the management for that, especially Jason Holder, who pushed for him to bat higher up the order. On being asked about who was behind the decision to promote him, he reveals it was a joint call between the captain and the coach, with plenty of discussion going into it. On the surface, he doesn't hold back, joking that the groundsmen deserve a big hug for the pitch they produced, adding simply that he loves batting in the Caribbean.

The Lankan takeover - There have been a lot of standouts for St Kitts and Nevis Patriots tonight, but none bigger than Dasun Shanaka. The seasoned pro struck an unbeaten 121 off just 43 balls, notching up the record for the fastest hundred in the CPL in the process and hitting 12 sixes en route to that colossal knock as well. He wasn't the only Sri Lankan to leave his mark either. Wanindu Hasaranga did a solid job with the bat, and then he bowled a fine spell with the ball as well, picking up a couple of wickets.

Utter domination - St Kitts and Nevis Patriots have rounded off their home season with an astonishing win over Saint Lucia Kings, keeping themselves well and truly alive in the playoff race. The Patriots were a step above in every aspect of the game and Warner Park has turned into a picture of frenzy.

Just a few days back, Louis was smashed all around the park, for 55 runs. And tonight, he is on the cusp of a well-deserved 5-wicket haul. The proof of what difference a couple of days can make. Keon Gaston is the last man in for the Kings.

The Patriots are almost there. Maheesh Theekshana is in at number 10. Wanindu Hasaranga (2/20 in 3 overs) will bowl out.

Jeremiah Louis isn't happy with the state of his landing area, and a member of the ground staff is quickly out in the middle to sprinkle some sawdust down to fix it. Good to resume.