The Trinbago Knight Riders edged St Kitts and Nevis Patriots by three runs in a high-scoring thriller that saw both teams qualify for the semi-finals of The Men’s 6IXTY.
Sent into bat first, the Knight Riders were boosted by 22 off 13 balls by Tim Seifert and 22 off 10 balls by Tion Webster before Andre Russell got going.
The newly-acquired TKR all-rounder smashed 72 off 24 balls with eight sixes, bringing up his fifty off only 17 balls.
His magnificent hitting puts a late cameo by Seekkuge Prasanna (19 off 5 balls) saw the Knight Riders post 155 for 5 in their 10 overs.
The Patriots lost skipper Evin Lewis (7) early but Andre Fletcher smacked 33 off 15 balls to foreshadow the onslaught that was to come.
Sherfane Rutherford hit the first four balls he faced for massive sixes and then proceeded to get to his fifty off only 14 balls.
He went caught by Anderson Phillip off Andre Russell a ball later, but the entertainment for the St Kitts faithful was not done.
Dominic Drakes then took the attack to the Knight Riders’ bowlers as he and Chris Gayle reduced the deficit to 25 needed off the last six balls.
Jayden Seales conceded only three runs off the first two legal balls of the final over before Chris Gayle thumped a massive six.
The Universe Boss only managed a single off the fourth ball before Drakes drilled a six and a four off the final two deliveries.
The Patriots fell three runs short but both teams by virtue of their six-hitting prowess qualified for the semi-finals.
Fifteen sixes were hit in the match alone, with the Patriots getting 15 to the Knight Riders’ 14.
The result meant that the St Lucia Kings and the Guyana Amazon Warriors were eliminated from the tournament.
The Jamaica Tallawahs will face the Patriots in the first semi-final on Sunday at 10 am, while the Knight Riders will take on the Barbados Royals in the second semi at 12:30 pm.
The Women’s 6IXTY final between the Trinbago Knight Riders and the Barbados Royals is on at 3:00 pm.
The Men’s 6IXTY final is on from 5:30 pm on Sunday at Warner Park.
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