Forde stuns Royals as Kings rebound with dominant win

Matthew Forde rocked Barbados Royals with a sensational new ball spell, to fire St Lucia Kings to a convincing 54-run victory in the second game of the Caribbean Premier League at the Darren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia.

With Royals chasing 202,  the 21-year-old seamer ripped through their top order with three for 12 from three overs, to send the innings crumbling for 147 all out of their allocated 20 overs.

Smith bowled Justin Greaves for a first-ball ‘duck’ with the third ball of the chase, shattered Kevin Wickham’s (10) stumps in his next over before getting captain Rovman Powell to hole out to long on in the same over without scoring.

Nyeem Young arrived at number eight to top-score with 48 from 39 deliveries but by then the game was long gone.
Fast bowler Matthew Forde peels away in celebration after bowling Kevin Wickham. 

“I’ve been carrying a bit of form for a while now, obviously in the Canada series and now coming into CPL so I’m just trying to take it as far as possible,” said Man-ofthe-Match Forde.“The conditions here at St Lucia are lovely so I just made use of it.”

Choosing to bat first after their opening loss to Jamaica Tallawahs previously, Kings were lifted to 201 for six off their 20 overs by Zimbabwe’s Sean Williams who top-scored with 47 from 30 balls, captain Faf du Plessis who made 46 from 32 deliveries and fellow opener Johnson Charles who struck 30 from 19 deliveries.

Du Plessis, who counted four fours and two sixes when he posted a rapid 61 off 34 balls for the first wicket with Charles who belted five fours and a six, before becoming the first casualty, playing on to seamer Jason Holder who was the best Royals bowler with four for 38.

Three partnerships then helped get Kings up to their eventual total. Firstly, du Plessis added 44 for the third wicket with Williams who then combined with fellow countryman Sikandar Raza in a 45-run, fourth wicket stand to maintain the momentum.

Williams, who struck three fours and two sixes, missed a charge at Afghan leg-spinner Qais Ahmed (2-35) and was stumped in the 16th over, Roshon Primus (21 not out) and Roston Chase (14) added a further 27 for the sixth to rally the innings.

Facing a required rate of over 10 runs per over, Royals had the worst possible start when Rahkeem Cornwall was run out at the non-striker’s end through Chris Sole’s direct throw from short fine leg, off the first ball of the chase.

Greaves, Wickham and Powell then fell quickly after leaving the innings tottering on 21 for four in the third over before Kyle Mayers (16) and Holder (10) tried to repair the damage in a 25-run, fifth wicket stand.

Then, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph broke the stand when he had Mayers taken on the ropes at third man in the sixth over and Holder followed in the next over, bowled after missing a big stroke at pacer Sole.

In a blink, Royals plummeted to 118 for nine in the 16th over and Young’s fireworks—one four and four sixes—only served to delay the inevitable.