Seifert Hundred Puts Kings On Top
Saint Lucia Kings recorded back-to-back wins as they beat the Trinbago Knight Riders by 36-runs at the Queen’s Park Oval in the Republic Bank Caribbean Premier League (CPL).
Tim Seifert recorded the first century of the CPL season with a sensational 105 not out. It was his second century for the Kings as they made the highest total of the competition so far. Roston Chase led the bowlers with figures of 3 for 24 in what turned out to be a potentially match saving spell.
Chase’s side put into bat by the Knight Riders and they hit their straps from ball one as Tim Seifert and Kamil Pooran got the Kings off to a blistering start inside the PowerPlay. A slightly unorthodox route to 64 for 1 from the first six, with 11 fours and no sixes. Seifert showed the expert form he has shown of late and worked the Knight Riders bowling attack with relative ease all around the ground.
He was backed up by steady partners and built big partnerships with Pooran, John Campbell and Charith Asalanka. The Knight Riders struggled to break through partnerships and Abdul-Raheem Toppin and Dominic Drakes both went at over 16 an over.
The Kings were able to maintain their tempo throughout the innings and found at least one boundary in 18 of their 20 overs. Seifert was the catalyst as he led the charge and powered past fifty in quick time. Asalanka was the only other Kings’ batter to hit a maximum. He sent Drakes for three back-to-back maximums in the 17th over as the Saint Lucians looked to put on only the third 200 plus score of the tournament so far.
Shortly after passing 200, it was Seifert’s moment as he became the first batter in CPL 2026 so far to remove his helmet and raise his bat. His second CPL century for the Kings, against the side he played three seasons for. The Kings finished 211 for 4 and with a pep in their step as they headed off to bowl.
The Knight Riders knew they had to attack from the outset and that’s exactly what they did with Colin Munro and opening partner, Sunil Narine. Munro’s display of power hitting got the home crowd on their feet and renewed belief they could chase the Kings hefty total. The PowerPlay yielded 56 for no loss, exactly what the doctor ordered for TKR.
However, the game turned on its head in the 8th over when Roston Chase took three wickets in four balls as Narine, Matthew Breetzke and Nicholas Pooran departed. Shortly after Joshua Bishop picked up the key wicket of Munro for 48, caught by Roston Chase, who couldn’t keep himself out of the action. From there the run rate slowed and the required run rate began to climb rapidly.
The Knight Riders had one last ace to play as Kieron Pollard entered the fray. The veteran used every bit of his physical prowess to blast the ball to all regions of the Queen’s Park Oval. It was still a tall order, but as long as Pollard was there, there was belief. Then entered the tournament leading wicket taker Matthew Forde, who forced a top edge from Pollard, straight into his own welcome hands. From there the Kings could canter to the finish line with Forde and Keon Gaston taking them home.
