Powell, Green get Royals off the mark

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados:

Barbados Royals skipper Rovman Powell and Chris Green produced clinical performances to finally end their side's drought with a comprehensive 27-run victory over defending champs and table leaders St Lucia Kings yesterday.

With his side floundering on 120 for five in the 16th over, Powell blasted an unbeaten 41 from just 17 balls, and together with Green, who scored 25 not out off 14 balls, got the home side up to 191 for five after they were sent in to bat at Kensington Oval.

The Kings never recovered after losing three wickets in the powerplay and sauntered to 164 for nine at the end of their allotted 20 overs.

MATHEMATICAL CHANCE

It was the Royals' first win in seven games and left them with a mathematical chance of making the playoffs, while the Kings remained in first position on 12 points due to a better net run rate than the Trinbago Knight Riders.

Royals' opener Quinton de Kock's nightmares continued when he was out after scoring just one run, but Brandon King and Kadeem Alleyne struck some hefty blows during a 53-run partnership for the second wicket that carried them to 68 for one in the ninth over.

But once spinner Tabraiz Shamsi had King caught for 42 and then bowled Alleyne for 39, Rassie van der Dussen (20) and Sherfane Rutherford (16), followed in quick succession to leave the Royals 120 for five.

DYNAMIC DUO

The dynamic duo of Powell and Green then came together to pummel 71 runs off the last five overs, including 61 from the last three, to propel the Royals to their highest total of this year's competition.

They smashed 20 runs from the 18th over bowled by David Wiese, 21 runs from the penultimate over delivered by Alzarri Joseph and 20 runs off Delano Potgieter's last over.

In all, Powell hit four fours and three sixes, while Green slammed two fours and one six.

Shamsi was the Kings' best bowler with 3-26 from his four overs.

The Kings' run chase was over almost as soon as it began.

Johnson Charles was caught by King off Green's bowling for one, Ramon Simmonds accounted for Ackeem Auguste, also for one, and Green also dismissed Roston Chase to leave them 26 for three in the fourth over.

Tim Seifert made 24 off 13 balls before he was bowled by Jomel Warrican and Daniel Sams sent Aaron Jones packing for two, to essentially end the contest, as the Kings crumbled to 61 for five in the 10th over.

Tim David tried his best in smashing 44 off 28 balls, Alzarri Joseph made 23 and Potgieter added 22, but it could not prevent the Kings from sliding to their second loss of the competition.

For the Royals, Simmonds grabbed 3-28, Sams 3-31, and Player-of-the-Match Green 2-11.

- CMC