Mujeeb Ur Rahman's fiery three-wicket haul followed by Kyle Mayers' blitzkrieg fifty powered Barbados Royals to an 8-wicket win over Trinbago Knight Riders at Port of Spain on Tuesday. The Royals have now won 6 of their 6 games, maintaining their unbeaten streak in the tournament. They continue to sit pretty atop the points table, with 12 points and a solid net run rate of +1.846.
Earlier, David Miller once again called it right at the toss and opted to bowl first, a strategy that has been working well for his team so far. The decision immediately reaped benefits, as the bowling attack bundled out the Knight Riders for a meagre total of 132 in 20 overs. The Powerplay itself yielded 3 wickets, with opener Nicholas Pooran being the only batter getting into the runs, as Rahkeem Cornwall and Mujeeb dominated proceedings. Mujeeb, in particular, was phenomenal. Playing his first game of the season soon after stepping foot in the Caribbean, the Afghan spinner dismantled the middle order, finishing with figures of 3/17 in his 4 overs.
Jason Holder and Obed McCoy then teamed up to do the rest. In the 16th over, McCoy got the better of Pooran yet again, bowling a pinpoint yorker that the batter failed to connect with. Pooran's wicket helped stall the run flow, and the Knight Riders never really recovered from thereon.
In response, the Royals Rahkeem early on in the 2nd over. But Mayers and Corbin Bosch put up a mammoth 98-run partnership to dominate the chase. Mayers continued his supreme touch, striking yet another blistering half-century. By the time he departed for his 36-ball 79, the Royals needed less than 30 runs in more than 8 overs and had 8 wickets in hand. Corbin was joined by Quinton de Kock, and the two completed the formalities in the 16th over.