Jamaica Kingsmen secured a seven-run victory over Trinbago Knight Riders in their rain-affected CPL 2026 encounter at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain. Set a stiff target of 181 after half-century knocks from each of TKR’s top-three, Kingsmen’s chase was interrupted for an hour due to rain, in the ninth over, at which point, they were ahead by four runs on the par score. Keacy Carty’s 33-ball 42 helped sustain that momentum after the break and leading up to the death overs when another spell of heavy downpour forced the officials to pull the plug at 127/3, giving them a seven-run victory via DLS method.
After Kingsmen elected to field, the Knight Riders’ top-order set a strong base with their contrasting half-centuries. OpenerColin Munro provided vital support with a steady 52 off 42 deliveries, hitting three fours and three sixes, while Sunil Narine provided the fireworks, smashing 53 runs in just 24 balls with six fours and three sixes. The 101-run opening stand was finally broken by Keemo Paul in the ninth over, just after Narine had reached the milestone.
Vitel Lawes then snagged three in an over to derail TKR’s charge. He got rid of Munro, and dismissed Kieron Polllard and Matthew Tropm for ducks in the space of five deliveries to reduce the Knight Riders to 120/4 from a comfortable 101/0.
Nicholas Pooran took over, hitting a 37-ball 60 not out to help TKR finish on a strong note.He made 34 off 18 deliveries in the 40-run stand with Alex Hales and smashed 16 off 6 in a 20-run stand with Dominic Drakes at death to help put on 180 on the board.
Carty top-scored for the Kingsmen with 42, hitting five boundaries but the start to Kingsmen’s chase was wobbly after they lost opener Maaz Sadaqat cheaply in the second over. His opening partner Kirk McKenzie contributed a brisk 30 off 25 balls, featuring four boundaries and a six, in a half-century stand with Carty.McKenzie fell at the start of the ninth over, and Saim Ayub chipped in with valuable 24 runs off 18 balls, including a six, to keep the chase afloat.
The pair added 52 runs in just 35 balls between the two rain breaks to keep ahead of the required DLS rate. With the weather preventing any further play, Jamaica Kingsmen were declared winners by seven runs.
Brief scores: Trinbago Knight Riders 180/6 in 20 overs (Nicholas Pooran 60*, Sunil Narine 53, Colin Munro 52; Vitel Lawes 3-29) lost to Jamaica Kingsmen 127/3 in 14.4 overs (Keacy Carty 42, Kirk McKenzie 30, Sain Ayub 24*; Jyd Goolie 2-30) by 7 runs on DLS method
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