TAROUBA, Trinidad (CMC): OPENERS JOHNSON Charles and Faf du Plessis tore the Trinbago Knight Riders’ bowlers to shreds to help set up an emphatic 80-run victory for the St Lucia Kings in the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) yesterday. Charles and du Plessis shared an opening stand of 145 runs, which helped set the foundation for the Kings’ mammoth total of 218 for six in 20 overs after they were sent in to bat at the Brian Lara Stadium. Needing a big effort from their batsmen, the Knight Riders lost wickets at regular intervals and never looked like getting close before being eventually dismissed for 138 in 17.
5 overs. It was the Kings’ seventh win in nine games and extended their lead at the top of the CPL to four points over the second-place Guyana Amazon Warriors. The victory was set up by Charles, who smashed 89 from 40 balls, and du Plessis, who served as the perfect foil with 59 from 43.
The pair didn’t take long to get into the groove, hitting pacer Jayden Seales for three boundaries in the first over of the innings. Du Plessis took a liking to Akeal Hosein, striking him for a six and a four in the fifth over and in the ensuing over, pacer Chris Jordan was clobbered for a six and two fours by Charles to lift the Kings to 54 without loss after six overs. Dwayne Bravo then pulled up in the field after attempting to make a catch to dismiss du Plessis to make matters worse for the Knight Riders.
Charles brought up his 50 in spectacular fashion off 23 balls in the eig.
